Times When Maharashtra Came Under President’s Rule

MUMBAI: From the formation of the state on May 1, 1960, this is the third time that Maharashtra has come under President's rule. Here are the three times that the state has come under President's Rule.

February 1980

Indira Gandhi led government dismissed the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government headed by Sharad Pawar.

When Assembly elections were held in the state that year, the Congress came to power and the Chief Minister was A R Antulay. Prior to that, Sharad Pawar was the CM from 1978 to 1980. He formed the PDF after toppling the Vasantdada Patil-led Congress government in 1978. Pawar was a minister in the Patil government.

Gandhi had dismissed the PDF government after returning to power at the Centre in the 1980 Lok Sabha polls.

September 28, 2014:

34 years later, President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra, Article 356 was invoked in the state after Prithviraj Chavan resigned as CM following withdrawal of support by ally NCP to the Congress-led government.

The two allies had drifted apart on the issue of equal sharing of assembly seats and chief minister's post. The 2014 assembly election was held when the state was under President's rule.

After the assembly election of October 2014, the BJP came to power under Devendra Fadnavis and the Sena later joined his government. The BJP and the Sena had fought that election separately.

November 12, 2019

For the first time, the state came under President's rule due to inability of political parties to form a government after an assembly election.

As per a statement tweeted by the Governor's office, "He is satisfied that the government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution, (and therefore) has today submitted a report as contemplated by the provision of Article 356 of the Constitution."

In the October 21 assembly election, whose results were declared on October 24, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats followed by the Shiv Sena 56, the NCP 54 and the Congress 44.

The BJP, although had the most number of seats, power tussle with the Shiv Sena over the post of Chief Minister led to the two parties parting ways. Last weekend, the BJP conveyed Governor B S Koshyari its inability to form government, citing lack of numbers.

After this, the Governor asked the Shiv Sena, the second largest party, to "indicate the willingness and ability" to form government. On Monday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party met the Governor and expressed willingness to form the government, but failed to submit requisite letters of support from rival outfits to show it has the numbers.

Pre-poll allies BJP and the Shiv Sena had together won 161 seats, way above the 145 majority mark in the 288-member house. But intense power tussle over chief minister's post created a wedge between the now erstwhile saffron partners and delayed the formation of government.

Last weekend, the BJP conveyed Governor B S Koshyari its inability to form government, citing lack of numbers.

After this, the Governor asked the Shiv Sena, the second largest party, to "indicate the willingness and ability" to form government. On Monday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party met the Governor and expressed willingness to form the government, but failed to submit requisite letters of support from rival outfits to show it has the numbers.

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