Will Delay In Cabinet Expansion Lead To President’s Rule In Maharashtra?

Congress State President Nana Patole on July 12 demanded the dismissal of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s government and implementation of the President’s Rule in the state. This demand from the opposition comes as there is a delay in cabinet expansion and the government’s failure to address issues like inflation, unemployment, and farmers' suicides.

On Thursday, July 13, Nana Patole said that they would ask President Draupadi Murmu and Governor Ramesh Bais to take appropriate action.

The current circumstance makes the party think of the scene in the movie 'Ali Baba Aur Chalis Chor' where the thieves battle it out for a piece of the loot. Unemployment and poverty are increasing, inflation is reaching new heights. Law and order have entirely disintegrated, and farmer suicides continue unabatedly, farmers are not getting any help despite unseasonal rains. However, this unlawful administration is actively plundering the populace. They have no time for the general populace, according to Patole.

Further taking a swipe at the BJP, he said that voters are feeling cheated thinking that they made a mistake by voting for BJP’s 105 MLAs. Asking for Governor and President’s intervention he said, “They are only engaged in burning rivals' effigies and kicking posters with their shoes. The parties in this Enforcement Directorate (ED) government are competing for lucrative ministries for the first time in history, which is causing an excessive delay in the cabinet expansion. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is repressing critics by abusing the ED and CBI. We ask the President and governor to get involved right away.”

"There are fights over portfolios and ministerial berths. Looking at this, the President's rule should be imposed in the state and the state government should be dismissed," he added.

India's version of president's rule involves suspending the state government and putting the union government in charge of the state.

After the 2019 Assembly Election results were out, BJP got 105 seats and Shiv Sena got 56 as both had an alliance then, but they broke their ties as they had a spat over CM’s post. At that time too there were speculations about the implementation of the President’s rule in the state, but the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was formed and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray took up the charge as the state’s CM. 

In 2022, the Shiv Sena Split Eknath Shinde led faction and BJP came to power. Even after completing a year in power in the state, however, the State Cabinet only has 20 ministers now, including the CM and Deputy CM. On July 2, NCP leader Ajit Pawar with his fellow allies took oath and became the second Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly comprises 288 members, hence in the Council of Ministers, the government can have a maximum of 43 members. For the remaining berths, there is a big fight between the three parties.

Before today, Maharashtra had been under President’s rule twice. The first of it was in February 1980.  Sharad Pawar's Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) administration was overthrown by the Indira Gandhi administration in 1980, and Maharashtra was placed under President's rule.

From 1978 until 1980, Pawar served as the chief minister. After overthrowing the Vasantdada Patil-led Congress government in 1978, he established the PDF. Pawar served as a minister in the Patil administration.

After winning the 1980 Lok Sabha elections and taking back control of the Centre, Gandhi dismissed the PDF administration.

After 34 years, the state saw a second period of President's rule. On September 28, 2014, President's rule was implemented following Prithviraj Chavan's resignation as Chief Minister following the withdrawal of support by ally NCP to the Congress-led government on September 28, 2014. On the subject of an equal distribution of assembly seats and the position of chief minister, the two allies had grown apart. When the state was governed by the President, the 2014 assembly elections were held.

In 2014, after the Assembly Elections, BJP and Shiv Sena formed an alliance. Devendra Fadnavis led the BJP to victory, and the Sena eventually joined his administration. Separate campaigns were run by the Sena and the BJP in the election.

Speaking of the present situation of the state’s ruling parties, the question is will Maharashtra again come under the President’s rule?