Is Maharashtra heading towards President's rule?

The deadlock over government formation still remains in Maharashtra as no party is coming forward to stake claim. The current term for the Devendra Fadnavis government ends on November 9. 

Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested 2019 assembly elections together. However, amid the ongoing tussle between the saffron parties over power-sharing, both the parties met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari separately.

On Thursday, a BJP delegation led by party’s Maharashtra unit President Chandrakant Patil met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to discuss the political situation in the state. 

Earlier, Shiv Sena leaders, Sanjay Raut and Ramdas Kadam, had also met the Maharashtra Governor to discuss the losses faced by farmers in the state due to untimely rains. The Sena leaders, reportedly, also discussed the ongoing political situation. 

After their meeting with the Maharashtra Governor, senior BJP leaders including Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Sudhir Mungantiwar and Girish Mahajan refused to answer any media questions over government formation. 

However, according to media reports, the BJP delegation informed the Maharashtra Governor that they feel “ditched” by Shiv Sena despite having a clear majority and pre-poll alliance. 

Later, Advocate General (AG) Ashutosh Kumbhakoni met the Maharashtra Governor and their meeting went on for 20 minutes behind closed-door.

According to the media reports, the AG and Governor might have discussed the legal and constitutional options regarding government formation in Maharashtra given that no party is coming forward to stake claim. 

To form the government in the state, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari can invite the largest party, in this case - BJP, to form the government while determining the time for majority test. On the other hand, the Governor can also suggest the President’s rule in the state. 

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Since the declaration of assembly election results in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has been adamant in their demand to implement the 50-50 power-sharing formula while BJP has maintained that the Chief Minister will be from their party.