NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Nov 12 - President�s rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening amid a political impasse, after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in a report to the Centre stated that formation of a stable government was impossible in the current situation despite all his efforts, drawing flak from non-BJP parties.
The development came as senior Congress leaders deputed by party chief Sonia Gandhi were in a huddle with NCP president Sharad Pawar in south Mumbai on supporting Shiv Sena to form a government in the state, which has plunged into political uncertainty after the BJP and the Shiv Sena parted ways due to disagreement over power sharing though their alliance got a comfortable majority in the Assembly polls.
After the meeting, Congress leader Ahmed Patel insisted no final decision can be taken without formulation of common minimum programme by the three parties. He condemned the imposition of President�s rule and said Congress was not given an opportunity to form government.
The Cabinet recommended that the President issue a Proclamation under Article 356(1) of the Constitution imposing President�s rule in Maharashtra and keep the state legislative assembly under suspended animation.
�President Ram Nath Kovind has signed the proclamation,� an official said
In his report, the Governor said that a situation has arisen in the state �in which it is impossible to constitute and/or form a stable Government in the state�, officials said
The Governor noted that he made attempts to explore the possibility of formation of government by having appropriate communications with all the political parties which could have formed the government in alliance with other political parties, but they have not succeeded.
�He is satisfied that the government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, (and therefore) has today submitted a report as contemplated by provision of Article 356 of the Constitution,� said a tweet from the Governor�s office.
After the BJP declined to form the government and the Shiv Sena failed to get letters of support from the NCP and the Congress, Koshyari had on Monday night asked the Sharad Pawar-led NCP to express its �ability and willingness� to stake claim to form government in the state by 8.30 pm on Tuesday.
However, the Governor, is his report, noted that the NCP on Tuesday morning conveyed to him that the party needed three more days to gather requisite support.
The Governor felt that as already 15 days had passed, he was not in a position to give more time, the officials said.
President�s Rule can be revoked before the six-month period if a situation emerges for formation of a stable government, the officials said.
In the assembly polls held last month, the BJP won 105 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena (56), the NCP (54) and the Congress (48) in the 288-member House. .
An angry Shiv Sena, which was trying to cobble together a non-BJP government with support from the NCP and the Congress, moved the Supreme Court challenging the Governor�s decision on Monday to not grant it the three days to submit the letter of support for government formation in the state, but failed to get an urgent hearing. � PTI
