New Delhi: President’s rule has been imposed on Maharashtra following the state governor’s recommendation.

With the Congress not coming to a decision on what sort of alliance it is willing to support in Maharashtra on Monday, the Shiv Sena ran out of time to stake claim. Subsequently, the governor had invited the National Congress Party – Congress’s pre-poll ally – to stake claim by 8 pm today. Before the NCP deadline was over, however, the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had sent his recommendation for President’s rule to the Union Cabinet, which promptly approved of it. President Ram Nath Kovind too gave his assent soon.

The Raj Bhavan had initially denied reports that the governor has recommended President’s Rule.

The Shiv Sena has moved the Supreme Court against governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to not extend the time given to the party to prove it has the ability to form the government.

The Congress held marathon meetings on Monday but did not come to a conclusion. While reports initially said they had agreed to give outside support to a Shiv Sena-NCP government, the party did not confirm its stance before the deadline. Maharashtra Congress MLAs had expressed willingness to support the alliance, but the central leadership appeared more conflicted.

On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by caretaker chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, told the Maharashtra governor that it would not be able to form the government in the state despite being the single largest party.

The NCP had initially said that it would consider an alliance in the state only if the Shiv Sena quits the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. In response, Arvind Sawant – who was minister of heavy industries and public enterprises in the Modi cabinet – resigned from his position on Monday. Despite, the Shiv Sena was not able to rally the support necessary to stake claim.

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