President rule imposed in Maharashtra in 2019 with Sharad Pawar’s consent, says Devendra Fadnavis

Prafulla Marpakwar / TNN / Updated: Oct 5, 2023, 09:42 IST

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Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that President's rule in Maharashtra in 2019 was imposed with the consent of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, but Pawar denied the claim. Fadnavis stated that the deadlock over government formation led to President's rule, with the NCP refusing to stake a claim. He also mentioned that Pawar had initially agreed to form the government with the BJP, but later changed his stance, citing the need for more time to assess party workers' views.

Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said at the India Today conclave on Wednesday that President’s rule was imposed in Maharashtra in 2019 with the consent of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Pawar later rejected the claim at the same event, saying it was a call taken by the BJP government at the Centre.
“Since there was a deadlock over formation of government, President’s rule was imposed on the suggestion of Sharad Pawar.

As per procedure, the governor sought the opinion of political parties on staking claim for formation of government. The NCP refused to stake claim, and its letter was typed at my residence. As per directions of Pawar, certain changes were made in the letter,” Fadnavis said.
His disclosure came as another political embarrassment for Pawar. In the past too, Fadnavis had made a series of disclosures about Pawar and the formation of government in 2019 and especially the swearing-in with Ajit Pawar in the early hours of November 23, 2019.
Fadnavis further said on Wednesday that after the 2019 election results were declared, the BJP was in the process of forming the government with the NCP, and in fact all the formalities, including portfolio distribution, were complete. However, Sharad Pawar took a u-turn.

Fadnavis said Pawar had informed the BJP that it was not possible for him to join hands with it in a short period. “He said he would be on a statewide tour to assess the views of party workers and sought a month’s time,” Fadnavis said. Later, Pawar took the lead in forming the MVA government under leadership of Uddhav Thackeray.
Pawar said the BJP was in government at the Centre. “If they decide to impose President’s rule, why should we say no? They have the numbers, why would they listen to me,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase rejected Fadnavis’s claim, saying there was no substance to his statement. “We wish to clarify these claims are entirely baseless and lack any factual foundation,” Tapase said in a statement. Tapase said the NCP under leadership of Sharad Pawar has consistently upheld the principles of democracy and the will of the people. — With inputs from PTI

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