India’s Financial Capital Maharashtra Under President’s Rule

MUMBAI: For the first time in the 59-years of the history of Maharashtra, President's rule has been imposed in the state due to inability of political parties to form a government after an assembly election.

On the whole, this is the third time that Maharashtra came under the Centre's rule.

In the October 21 assembly election, whose results were declared on October 24, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats followed by the Shiv Sena 56, the NCP 54 and the Congress 44.

Allies Shiv Sena and BJP together garnered 161 votes, way above the majority mark of 145 in the 228-member House. But intense power tussle over the Chief Minister's post created rifts between the two, with the saffron party opting out to stake claim to form the government.

Governor B S Koshyari then asked Shiv Sena, the second-largest party to form the government, but failed to submit requisite letters of support from rival outfits to show it has the numbers.

Three times when Maharashtra was under President's rule:

• Feb 1980: Indira Gandhi government dismissed the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government headed by Sharad Pawar.
• September 28, 2014: President's rule was imposed after Prithviraj Chavan resigned as Chief Minister following the withdrawal of support by ally NCP to the Congress-led government.
• November 12, 2019: Article 356 invoked due to the inability of political parties to form a government after an assembly election.

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