New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday heard a petition filed by Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP challenging the formation of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar’s government amidst political developments in Maharashtra. Kapil Sibal from Shiv Sena, NCP – Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Congress, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta from the Center and Mukul Rohatgi from Maharashtra BJP and Devendra Fadnavis were present in the court room.
Mukul Rohatgi, representing Devendra Fadnavis, said that the Shiv Sena, which had been with the BJP in an alliance before the election, quit after the results. Subsequently President’s rule was imposed. Fadnavis later received a letter of support from the NCP. So he went to the Governor with the support of 170 MLAs. President’s rule was lifted and Fadnavis was sworn in.
A bench of Justices NV Ramana, Ashok Bhushan, and Sanjeev Khanna was hearing a petition filed by the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
Rohatgi told that one Pawar was with us and one from the opposition. There must have been some family dispute between them. It was not a matter of concern for us. He was involved in horse trading, not us.
Mukul Rohatgi said, this case is different from Karnataka case. Here all the documents showing majority before the Governor were present. No one is saying that the signatures of the victors were confused. The governor gave all parties a chance to form the government. It was asked how the Governor can take such action. The Governor decided on the basis of the documents before him. Simultaneously, Rohatgi asked the Supreme Court not to do a judicial review of the Maharashtra Governor’s decision.
The Supreme Court had on Sunday asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to present the relevant documents, including the Maharashtra Governor’s letter. This included the BJP forming the government and the letter of support of the MLAs.
Significantly, in the politics of Maharashtra, there was some disturbance on Saturday morning that no one had imagined. Overnight the contest was reversed and the BJP formed the government with the NCP. Devendra Fadnavis took over as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar, NCP leader and nephew of Sharad Pawar, took the oath of Deputy Chief Minister. At around 8 am, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two leaders.
