Any party having majority can approach Maha Guv; opposition politicising issue: Amit Shah

In his first interview since Maharashtra assembly poll results were out on October 24, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the opposition, particularly its long-time former ally Shiv Sena accusing them of politicising the President's Rule in the state.

New Delhi:With the opposition slamming the Bharatiya Janta Party for having orchestrated the President's Rule in Maharashtra without giving much time to the other parties to form a government, Home Minister and president of the saffron party Amit Shah hit back accusing them of "politicising the issue" asserting that each party was given "18 days to stake claim".

"Opposition's reaction to the President's rule is simply a political move. There was no hurry, parties were given 18 days to form a government," said Shah in an interview with Asian News International's Editor Smita Prakash.

"Those who are blaming us that we didn't give them enough time, I would like to tell them that while they were asking for two days, we have given them six months," added Shah while taking a dig at its former ally Shiv Sena.

This is Shah's first interview since Maharashtra assembly poll results were out on October 24.

When asked as to why is it that the President's rule was imposed by the Governor at 5:30 in the evening as opposed to 8:30 pm, as was declared earlier, Shah continued his tirade against Sena, "Shiv Sena probably doesn't consult its allies. Between 11:30 - 12:30 pm, NCP had written a letter to the Governor expressing that they cannot form a government by 8:30 in the evening. Why would the governor then wait till 8:30?"

On BJP emerging as the single largest party in Maharashtra polls, but not making efforts to form a government thereby disrespecting the popular mandate, the BJP leader said, "we fought the election with an ally. Although we emerged as the single largest party, there were several seats that we didn't even contest from given the fact that our ally (Shiv Sena) had fielded its candidates from those constituencies. But, our ally laid down conditions that weren't acceptable to us. We have only won 105 seats, and we cannot form a government on our own. What can we do?"

When asked about the reason behind the BJP's decision to call it quits with its long-time ally Sena, therefore, dismantling the 'Mahayuthi', Shah pointed out, "we had made it clear with Shiv Sena that our Chief Minister would be Devendra Fadnavis in case we win the election and we reiterated it on several occasions. But, Sena came up with some new demands at the last moment which weren't acceptable to us."

Asserting that BJP is the one that has suffered the most following the imposition of President's Rule, Home Minister said, "I would like to clarify that BJP has suffered the most so far President's rule is concerned because our caretaker government led by Devendra Fadnavis has been dissolved. The opposition hasn't lost anything. It is wrong to spread falsehood to gain public sympathy."

The BJP and Shiv Sena got an absolute majority in Maharashtra assembly polls but could not form the government over its ally demanding 50:50 power-sharing. The subsequent political uncertainty over government formation snowballed into a major crisis, which ultimately led to the imposition of President's Rule in the state on Tuesday.

BJP emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats followed by Shiv Sena with 56. Nationalist Congress Party won 54 seats and Congress 44. Congress and NCP fought the polls in an alliance.