MUMBAI : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis resigned from the top post ahead of the end of the current assembly’s tenure ending midnight Friday. Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari this evening at the Raj Bhawan and tendered his resignation.

The resignation takes Maharashtra a step closer to the possibility of President’s rule since the BJP and Shiv Sena have not been able to break the deadlock on government formation and reach an agreement.

“I submitted my resignation to Governor and he has accepted it. I got a chance to serve the people of Maharashtra for 5 years and I am thankful to the people of Maharashtra. I am also thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and all member of council of ministers," said Fadnavis while talking to reporters after submitting the resignation.

With Fadnavis’ resignation, the role of Governor comes into the picture as Koshyari will have to decide on the future course of action in the state. Koshyari could also invite Fadnavis to form government in the state since BJP is the single largest party with 105 legislators in the 288-member assembly or impose President's rule in Maharashtra.

BJP and its ally Shiv Sena have been unable to reach a consensus as the latter has insisted on a 50-50 power sharing formula despite winning 56 seats, nearly half of BJP’s. The largest party is not keen to give away the post of chief minister, a post that many senior leaders of Shiv Sena are keen Aditya Thackeray, son of party supremo Udhhav Thackeray, occupies. "No discussion happened on rotational chief minister with Shiv Sena," Fadnavis said.

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