Maharashtra: After Governor's invite, BJP says it can't form government
What's the story
As the Maharashtra political impasse continues yet another day, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that it cannot form the government in Maharashtra.
The BJP, being the single-largest party in the Assembly, was invited by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to form the government.
However, the party asserted that people voted for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, hence they cannot stake claim to form the government.
Details
Shiv Sena insulting people's mandate: Maharashtra BJP chief
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil addressed reporters on Sunday after holding a meeting with the Governor.
Patil said the BJP cannot form the government on its own as people voted for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.
He said, "If the Shiv Sena wants to insult the people's mandate and form a government with support from the NCP and Congress, they have our best wishes."
Recent developments
BJP core committee met at Fadnavis' home after Governor's invite
To recall, Governor Koshyari had invited BJP leader and acting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to "indicate the willingness and ability" to form the government, asking him to prove his majority by November 11.
Following the invite, the BJP held a core committee meeting at Fadnavis's home earlier on Sunday only to reconvene at 4 pm after failing to finalize its response to the Governor.
MLA poaching
Shiv Sena, Congress shifted MLAs to prevent poaching by BJP
The Governor's invite to the BJP led to speculation that the saffron party would try and poach MLAs from rival parties to prove its majority.
Hence, the Shiv Sena shifted its MLAs to a resort on Madh Island, two hours away from Mumbai.
Similarly, the Congress shifted its MLAs all the way to Jaipur, Rajasthan, where the party is in power.
History
What's happening in Maharashtra?
Although the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won majority in the polls, the two parties debated over a rotational CM policy.
The BJP claimed they never agreed to the policy, wherein BJP's Fadnavis and Sena's Aaditya Thackeray would share the CM seat for 2.5 years each. But the Sena stood firm on its demands.
Consequently, neither party formed the government, even as the former Assembly's tenure ended on Saturday.