NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday convened a meeting of the Union Cabinet here amid the political instability in Maharashtra. The issues to be discussed at the meeting were not immediately clear.
The meeting takes place amid speculation that President’s rule could be imposed in Maharashtra, where no political party or alliance has so far been able to firm up numbers to form a government even 20 days after the Assembly results were declared.
In the 288-member Assembly, the BJP emerged as the single largest party as it won 105 seats, and along with its pre-poll alliance partner Shiv Sena was in a comfortable position to form the government. However, Shiv Sena with 56 members refused to join the BJP in forming a government, insisting on rotation of Chief Ministership.
The Shiv Sena has since been trying to form government on its own with the help of the Congress and the NCP, which had won 44 and 54 seats respectively. Maharashtra Governor B.S. Koshyari invited BJP first to form the government on Saturday, but after the saffron party said it was not in position to show majority, he invited Shiv Sena to form government on Sunday. The Shiv Sena, however, could not present support of adequate number of MLAs during their 24-hour time period.
Subsequently, Koshyari invited NCP to form the government in the state on Monday evening giving a deadline of 8 p.m. for submission of adequate support of MLAs.