Shiv Sena attacks BJP over call for President's rule in Maharashtra

Amid tussle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the formation of government in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena on Saturday reacted strongly and stated that President’s rule threat by the BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was an insult to the state.

Earlier, BJP state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had stated that the state of Maharashtra may go for President’s rule if the new government is not formed by 7th November.

The term of the current Legislative Assembly in Maharashtra ends on 8th November. In his statement, Mungatiwar stated, "A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene".

Irked with its ally BJP for not accepting its demand for rotational chief ministership and 50:50 deal for power sharing, the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamana said that, "Mungantiwar's statements were a proof of the toxicity brewing with the party (BJP) and in his mind."

"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?" the article further reads.

The editorial further added: "The question is why is the government not being formed in Maharashtra.... Who will give the answer? If again a BJP leader becomes chief minister and there are no claims to form government, should the people of the state be blamed? The warning to impose President's rule is like Mughals threatening.”

In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP won 105 of the state’s 288 seats and the Shiv Sena gathered 56, while on the other hand, Sharad Pawar’s NCP won 54 seats and the congress won 44.

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