- 0:45 pm: Supreme Court orders to conduct floor test in Maharashtra after 5 pm on Wednesday
- 11:00 pm: Ajit Pawar has a confidential meeting with Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule
- 1:00 pm: Meeting held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda in Delhi
- 2:30 pm: Ajit Pawar resigns after being deputy chief minister for four days
- 3:30 pm: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announces his resignation
The second term of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for five years did not last even for four days. Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister on Saturday morning, on the basis of Ajit Pawar’s trust, and immediately removed President’s rule from the center. Ajit was made the Deputy Chief Minister. In just three days after forming a secret government, Ajit Pawar realized that uncle Sharad Pawar had the key to power. On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court ruled on the floor test, and in the afternoon, Ajit Pawar quietly resigned. Fadnavis also announced his resignation after an hour. In this way, after winning the Lok Sabha elections with an absolute majority, Maharashtra the first major state eloped from the hands of BJP. BJP MLA Kalidas Columbkar was made the protem speaker and has called the first session of the assembly at 8 am on Wednesday, in which the MLAs will be administered the oath.
10:45 am: Supreme Court verdict
Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP had filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Saturday against the secret swearing in of Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. The Supreme Court ruled on this morning and ordered a floor test on Wednesday evening. Instructions were given to conduct floor test through ballot. The Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP also wanted the same as they feared cross voting.
11:00 am: Secret meeting of Ajit Pawar
It is said that Ajit Pawar met Uncle Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule in Mumbai after the Supreme Court verdict. During this meeting Ajit Pawar was persuaded to leave the BJP.
1 pm: Modi-Shah-Nadda meeting in Delhi
A meeting was held in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda. The agenda of this meeting was not revealed, but it was said that this meeting was decided after the decision of the Supreme Court.
2:30 pm: Ajit resigns
Ajit Pawar resigned. He submitted this resignation not to the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari but to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. At the same time news came that Fadnavis would hold a press conference in a while.
3:30 pm: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announces his resignation
Fadnavis said in the press conference that when the decision of the Supreme Court came today and when the majority is to be proved on Wednesday, then Ajit Pawar met us and said that for some reasons they cannot stay in this alliance. He submitted his resignation to me. After his resignation, we also do not have a majority. BJP said from day one that we will not buy any MLA. We will not be horse trading. So I am resigning. The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will be burdened under its own burden. Shiv Sena leaders were swearing in the name of Sonia Gandhi. We were surprised how helpless they are for power. Those who accused us of horse trading, they are after after buying the whole stables of horses.
Fadnavis said – Shivsena was bargaining in number game
Fadnavis said- the people gave a majority to our alliance. We got 105 seats as the largest party. This mandate was for the BJP. We won 70% of the seats. Shiv Sena won just 40% of its seats. The coalition had a mandate, but it was a big mandate for the BJP. Honoring this, we tried to form a government. Unfortunately, the matter which was never decided, that is, the proposal to give the Chief Minister’s post to Shiv Sena, was talked about. They started bargaining thinking that their bargaining power could increase in the number game. We said that what has been decided will be given. What was not decided cannot be given. Instead of discussing with us, he was discussing with NCP and Congress. Those who do not pass outside matoshree, they were climbing the stairs of that building.
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BJP MLA Kalidas Columbkar became Protem Speaker
An hour after Fadnavis’ resignation, it was decided that BJP MLA Kalidas Columbkar was sworn in as the Protem Speaker. Earlier, the Congress had demanded Bala Saheb Thorat to be the Protem Speaker. The Congress had said that he is the most senior leader in the assembly. Thorat is an 8-time MLA. Thorat has also been elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party. The NCP has chosen Jayant Patil as the leader of the legislative party.
Sharad Pawar said – Ajit has no right to issue whip
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said- Misinformation is being spread that Ajit is the leader of NCP Legislature Party, who will issue whip to all NCP MLAs to vote for BJP in the power test. I have consulted from many constitution experts. I have come to the conclusion that Ajit has been removed from the post. They have no legal right to issue whip to legislators. Those occupying power illegally must now withdraw. “
Raut said- Uddhav Thackeray will be Chief Minister for 5 years
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said – Ajit Dada has resigned. They are with us. Uddhav Thackeray will be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for five years.
You call the parade of MLAs in the hotel is as power demonstration, we do not call it a Power Demonstration. We want to show truth to the people of the country, we want to show the people of Maharashtra, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Raj Bhavan and the one who has secretly sworn in the Chief Minister, the real truth.
Opposition’s power show was held at Hotel Hyatt
On Monday night, 162 legislators of opposition parties demonstrated a simultaneous accession at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai. Prominent leaders of the three parties included Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, senior Congress leader Malikarjun Kharge and state president Balasaheb Thorat.