'Maha' Vikas Aghadi: CM-designate Uddhav Thackeray stakes claim to form govt

23:11 November 26

Uddhav to be sworn in on Nov 28

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray late on Tuesday staked his claim to form the government in Maharashtra before Governor B.S. Koshyari, party sources said.

The Governor has accepted the claim and announced that Thackeray will be sworn-in as on 5 p.m. on November 28 (Thursday) at Shivaji Park.

A high-level delegation including NCP leader Praful Patel, NCP state chief Jayant Patil, Congress state President Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Samajwadi Party state President Abu Asim Azmi and other leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi met the Governor and submitted a letter from Thackeray, support letters of all alliance partners, and other documents, to the Governor.

The development came hours after Thackeray's unanimous election as the MVA leader this evening.

It is not clear whether Deputy CMs from the allies or other ministers would be sworn-in or not along with Thackeray on Thursday, said Thorat.

22:02 November 26

Will lead an all-inclusive government: CM-designate Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister-designate Uddhav B. Thackeray on Tuesday evening remembered his late father Bal Thackeray and thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar for the trust reposed in him.

Thackeray will be sworn-in as Chief Minister on December 1 in the evening at 5 pm, at a mega-function planned in Shivaji Park, it was announced by a spokesperson.

In his acceptance speech after he was unanimously elected as the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' nominee for Chief Minister, Thackeray said he was overwhelmed by the honour and would strive to live upto the expectations of all the supporting parties and the people of the state.

"This is an alliance of parties with divergent ideologies. This will give a new direction to the whole country. However, it should not be reduced to 'yours' or 'mine', but it should 'our' government. More important, the common man of the state should feel is 'my government' always," he said to thunderous applause.

However, he rued how the BJP dumped its 30-year-old ally and virtually called him a "liar", and them ejected him from the alliance and the NDA.

"We were not hungering for the post of CM... but, you had given a promise and you should have kept it. You had no faith in me, but the Opposition parties reposed their trust in me," Thackeray asserted.

He said the MVA parties did not "bend" before anybody, did not indulge in falsehoods and lying is not his brand of "Hindutva", and now after the struggle of the past few weeks, he would concentrate on the awesome task of administration before him.

Thackeray promised to lead an all-inclusive government which would work for the cause of the farmers, the poor, the downtrodden and marginalised sections of society and sought the cooperation of all the MVA parties in his endeavour.

21:49 November 26

BJP moulds institutions to form governments: Kapil Sibal

"They did the same in Karnataka. They had time to cobble up and alliance. If we had time, they knew we would protest," Kapil Sibal said accusing BJP of using institutions to form governments in states. 

"The more they do it. The nation will know that you have no interest in the future of the country nor in protecting its institutions," he said.

"This is their allegiance to the Indian constitution," he added. 
 

21:26 November 26

"We will ensure that the government in Maharastra lasts for five years and fulfill the promises given to the people of Maharashtra," said Senior Congress leader and party's Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora.

Criticising BJP for 'Maharashtra coup', Bora said that by retaining the government in Maharastra illegally for 80 hours, "BJP has made a mockery of the Constitution. "

20:17 November 26

Uddhav Thackeray formally chosen as new Maharashtra CM

Shiv Sena President Uddhav B. Thackeray was unanimously elected as chief of the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' on Tuesday evening, paving the way for his becoming the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Thackeray's name was proposed by Nationalist Congress Party state President Jayant Patil and Congress state President Balasaheb Thorat at a meeting of all the parties in the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' here.

Present on the occasion were NCP President Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party state President Abu Asim Azmi, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana President Raju Shetti, and other top leaders of the Sena, the NCP and the Congress.

As per indications, the MVA is likely to stake its claim to form the government before the Governor on Tuesday night, after which the details of the wearing-in ceremony shall be finalised.

The fast-paced developments came barely hours after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar abruptly resigned this afternoon, a day before the special session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was to be convened on Wednesday as ordered by the Supreme Court.

20:16 November 26

NCP-Sena-Cong combine to approach Governor to stake claim

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena and the Congress will approach Governor B.S. Koshyari to stake claim to form the government in Maharashtra after election of Uddhav Thackeray as the leader of three parties.

Speaking to reporters here, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "After Thackeray is elected as our leader, we will go to the Governor to stake claim to form the government."

His remarks came soon after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met the Governor and submitted his resignation. Fadnavis was sworn in the Chief Minister on Saturday morning along with Ajit Pawar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar's nephew, as his deputy.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Malik said resignation of Fadnavis was the victory of 11 crore people of Maharashtra. "The BJP was of the opinion that it will be in power and won't follow rules, but it was shattered," he said.

Malik said the NCP-Sena-Congress government would last for five years without any trouble.

Describing the NCP supremo as the real Chanakya of politics, Malik took an apparent dig at Union Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah, and said, "Maharashtra has shown who is the real Chanakya of politics."
 

17:41 November 26

Uddhav to be the new CM

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackarey is likely to be elected as legislature party leader of the Sena, the Congress and the NCP and will formally stake claim after his election.

Congress General Secretary In-charge Organisation K C Venugopal said that the joint meeting of the legislators will take place and Uddhav Thackeray will be elected as the leader.

The power sharing formula is in place with Balasaheb Thorat and Jayant Patil, the legislature party leaders of the Congress and the NCP respectively, likely to be Deputy Chief ministers of Maharashtra.

After months of high voltage drama, the dust is finally settling with Sharad Pawar anchoring on behalf of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, catapulting Uddhav Thackeray to the top post. After hectic parleys and court battles, the new government is likely to take oath at Shivaji Maidan with much fanfare.

Earlier, BJP received a big jolt in Maharashtra as rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar resigned as Deputy Chief Minister after hectic parleys and persuasions by Sharad Pawar and family. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said this is a "big victory" for the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

At a meeting on Tuesday where Sharad Pawar met Ajit Pawar, it was decided that junior Pawar will resign and not break the family.
 

17:10 November 26

Kolambkar: Protem speaker

Kolambkar: Protem speaker

BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar has been choosen to be the Protem Speaker of the house. According to reports, he will take oath shortly in Raj Bhawan.  Oath of MLAs to be administered tomorrow when the session begins. 

17:08 November 26

CMP to be released today? 

According to reports, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has given her consent to the Common Minimum Program(CMP) of the three parties. CMP is expected to be released after the joint meeting today. According to sources, modalities have been finalized between the alliance parties. 

13:46 November 26

NCP, Shiv Sena leaders meet at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai

Meeting of NCP and Shiv Sena leaders is underway at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. Leaders including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are present at the meet.

13:43 November 26

Cong elects  Balasaheb Thorat as Legislative Party leader 

Maharashtra Congress President Balasaheb Thorat elected Congress Legislative Party leader.
 

13:24 November 26

Ajit Pawar reaches Maha CM Fadnavis' residence

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar reaches Devendra Fadnavis' residence in Mumbai
 

13:23 November 26

Cong MLAs meet underway at JW Marriott Hotel

Meeting of Congress MLAs underway at JW Marriott Hotel. Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Balasaheb Thorat & Ashok Chavan are present in the meeting.

12:37 November 26

BJP MLAs summoned at Mumbai's Wankhade stadium at 9 pm

All Maharashtra BJP MLAs have been summoned on Tuesday at Mumbai's Wankhade stadium at 9 pm, ahead of floor test scheduled at 5 pm on Wednesday, which will be conducted by a Pro-tem Speaker.
 

12:19 November 26

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Nawab Malik to meet other party leaders

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and party leader Nawab Malik reach Sofitel Hotel to meet senior NCP leaders.
 

12:08 November 26

Maha assembly Speaker arrives at Fadnavis' residence 

BJP MLA Haribhau Bagade arrives at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was the Speaker of the previous assembly and officially, he is the Speaker till the next Speaker assumes charge. He arrived in the official car of the Speaker.

12:08 November 26

Maha BJP leaders to hold core committee meet at Fadnavis' residence in Mumbai

Ashish Shelar, Raosaheb Danve, Girish Mahajan, Bhupendra Yadav and other BJP leaders arrive at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for party's core committee meeting.
 

11:38 November 26

'Maha' Vikas Aghadi: CM-designate Uddhav Thackeray stakes claim to form govt

Mumbai:  Ahead of Wednesday's Assembly floor test, all major political parties in Maharashtra will hold meetings with their legislators at different venues here on Tuesday, party officials said.

The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress joint meeting will be held in a suburban five-star hotel at 5 p.m. While the Bharatiya Janata Party meeting will be held at a private club house in south Mumbai around 9 p.m. tonight, after the resignation of its Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 

The meetings will discuss Wednesday's course of action and coordination during the floor test. While the BJP has claimed support of over 170 MLAs, the Sena-NCP-Congress conducted a public parade of its 162 supporting legislators late on Monday.

Since the Maharashtra Assembly has a total strength of 288, the rival claims are expected to be clear on the floor of the house on Wednesday.

Presently, the parties are awaiting the appointment of the Pro-Tem Speaker by Governor B.S. Koshyari who will conduct the swearing-in of the newly-elected MLAs and the other house proceedings as per the Supreme Court orders.