Maharashtra: Shiv Sena to drop 'wait-and-watch mode'
What's the story
Amid the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena stalemate in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena reacted strongly to the demands of President's rule in the state.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the party will soon drop its "wait and watch mode."
Notably, Maharashtra Finance Minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungatiwar on Friday had said the party might go for President's rule if the standoff continues.
Details
Raut called BJP's President's rule threat 'unconstitutional'
In an article titled 'Is President In Your Pocket? Insult To Maharashtra' published in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana on Saturday, Raut stated that the BJP's "threatening statement" was "unconstitutional."
Raut also told reporters, "In India, the President protects the Constitution. Has this threat been given after the party exhausted all its means to claim power? Sena will soon drop its wait-and-watch mode in Maharashtra."
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Raut asks, 'Is the President's stamp at BJP's office?'
Raut stated, "Is the President under your (BJP's) control or President's stamp is at BJP's office which will be used if party is not able to form government in the state and President's rule can be imposed in Maharashtra?"
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'Warning to impose President's rule like Mughals threatening'
Further, calling Mungatiwar's statement "unconstitutional," Raut questioned, "The question is why is the government not being formed in Maharashtra.... Who will give the answer?"
He added, "Should people of Maharashtra be held responsible for the announcement of a BJP leader becoming chief minister again and no claims to form the government? The warning to impose President's rule is like Mughals threatening..."
Backstory
What's the power tussle between BJP and Shiv Sena about?
With the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly due for dissolution on November 8, Mungatiwar on Friday had warned that President's rule would be imposed if a new government isn't formed until November 7.
BJP and Shiv Sena have been debating over a 50:50 rule, wherein the Shiv Sena demands that BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and Sena's Aaditya Thackeray will share CM's post for 2.5 years each.
Maharashtra elections
BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won majority in state polls
To recall, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance had won majority in the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party.
The saffron party bagged 105 seats in the 288-member Assembly while the Shiv Sena won 56 seats.
Meanwhile, the Congress party won 44 seats and the Nationalist Congress Party won 54 seats in the October 21 elections.