14th Maharashtra Assembly
The Members of 14th Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra were elected in the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, with results announced on 24 October 2019.
The majority needed to form the government is 145 seats in the assembly of 288 MLAs. The incumbent BJP Shiv Sena alliance crossed the majority of 145 seats needed in the assembly by winning a total of 161 seats in the alliance. Individually BJP won 105 and SHS won 56 seats. The Opposition INC-NCP Alliance with 106 seats did not reach the majority mark. Individually INC won 44 and NCP won 54 seats. Due to differences in power sharing arrangement, 2019 Maharashtra political crisis ensued and Shiv Sena refused to support the newly sworned BJP CM. BJP did not prove majority in assembly. Shivsena and BJP split from their alliance.
Shiv Sena formed post-poll alliance with the Congress-NCP thus gaining majority of 172. The new alliance was named Maha Vikas Aghadi. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was sworn is as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. BJP became the principal opposition party in Maharashtra.[2]
On 21 June 2022, Eknath Shinde, a senior Shiv Sena leader, along with several other MLAs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi moved to Surat, Gujarat throwing the coalition into a crisis.[3]
History edit
Election results edit
The results of the 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election were announced on 24 October 2019. The majority needed to form the government is 145 seats in the assembly of 288 MLAs. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party Shiv Sena alliance crossed the majority of 145 seats needed in the assembly by winning a total of 161 seats in the alliance. Individually BJP won 105 and SHS won 56 seats. The Opposition INC-NCP Alliance with 106 seats did not reach the majority mark. Individually INC won 44 and NCP won 54 seats.
After the declaration of election results, Shiv Sena declined to support the BJP to form the government, demanding an equal share in power which was promised by BJP. Shiv Sena also demanded the post of Chief Minister for 2.5 years according to 50-50 promise.[4][5] But BJP declined such promise and eventually ended breaking ties with one of their oldest ally Shiv Sena.
On 8 November 2019, the Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari, a BJP appointee, invited the BJP to form a government as the single largest party. However, the BJP declined to form the government on 10 November because it was unable to attain the required number to prove majority. The invitation passed to the second largest party, Shiv Sena, to form government. On 11 November, the Governor invited the NCP to form government.[6] The next day, after the NCP also failed to gain majority support, the governor recommended president's rule to the Council of Ministers of India and the President. This was accepted, and president's rule was imposed.[5]
BJP government formation edit
In the early hours of 23 November, the president's rule was revoked and BJP's Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, while NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.[7] On the other side, NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced that Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP was his own and not endorsed by the party.[8] The NCP split into two factions: one led by Sharad Pawar and the other led by his nephew Ajit Pawar.[9] Later in the day, Ajit Pawar was removed as the parliamentary party leader of the NCP. He clarified that, despite joining hands with BJP, he is an NCP worker and will remain so. The next day Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the INC petitioned the Supreme Court regarding the discretion of the state governor to invite BJP to form government. Shiv Sena also requested the Supreme Court order the new government to prove majority in the legislative assembly.[10] On 26 November, the Supreme Court ordered the new government to prove the majority in the legislative assembly by the evening of the next day. The same day, Ajit Pawar and Fadnavis resigned as Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister.[11]
Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the INC rounded up their MLAs after Fadnavis' oath and kept them sequestered in various hotels and buses to prevent horse-trading.[12]
MVA government formation edit
The discussions between Shiv Sena, NCP and INC ended with the formation of a new alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi. A consensus was finally achieved with Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray appointed Chief Minister after protracted negotiations.[13]
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA); a post-election alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and INC with other small parties such as the Samajwadi Party and Peasants and Workers Party of India staked the claim to form a new government under the chief ministership of Uddhav Thackeray. The MVA leaders met the governor and submitted a letter of support of MLAs of MVA. Thackeray was sworn-in as the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 28 November 2019 at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.[14]
On 30 November, Thackeray passed floor test with 169 votes in favour. It needed to show a majority of 145 MLAs. On 1 December, Nana Patole from INC elected Speaker unopposed after BJP withdrew its candidature. Thackeray ministry had 41 members.
2022 political crisis edit
On 10 June, the infighting in the Shiv Sena got highlighted for the first time when BJP won 3 out of 6 seats in Rajya Sabha elections. On 20 June 2022, BJP won all 5 seats it contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections reportedly due to cross voting by several Shiv Sena members.[15]
Immediately after the MLC election results, 11 MLAs of the Shiv Sena, led by senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, moved to a Hotel in Surat Gujarat.[16] Soon Shinde claimed that he commands support of 40 MLAs.[17] These MLAs were again moved to Guwahati, Assam on 22 June. INC and NCP leaders criticized Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM of Assam, for interfering in Maharashtra politics instead of focusing on the Rain-caused flood in Assam.[17][18] On other hand Mr. Sarma maintained that how he can deny entry of any Indian citizen in his state. Shinde required support of 37 MLAs to avoid being disqualified under the Anti-defection laws in India.[19] Shinde demanded Thackeray to break the Maha Vikas Aghadi and re-join the alliance with BJP.[20]
After failing to convince Shinde to return to Mumbai, on 22 June, Uddhav Thackeray, declared that he is ready to step down as the leader of the alliance and as Chief Minister.[21] Later that day, Uddhav Thackeray moved from the residence of the CM Varsha to his private residence Matoshree.[22][23]
On 23 June, Shinde and 37 MLAs declared Shinde as the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature party. Total rebel MLAs rose to 46 members.[24]
Office bearers edit
Membership by party edit
Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by their political party (as of 23 May 2024[update]):
| Alliance | Party | No.of MLAs | Leader of the Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government (205) NDA (201) | BJP | 103 | Devendra Fadnavis | ||
| SHS | 40 | Eknath Shinde | |||
| NCP | 40 | Ajit Pawar | |||
| PHJSP | 2 | Bachchu Kadu | |||
| RSP | 1 | Ratnakar Gutte | |||
| JSS | 1 | Vinay Kore | |||
| IND | 13 | None | |||
| Confidence & supply (4) | BVA | 3 | Hitendra Thakur | ||
| MNS | 1 | Pramod Ratan Patil | |||
| Opposition (76) MVA | INC | 41 | BalasahebThorat | ||
| SS(UBT) | 16 | Ajay Choudhari | |||
| NCP(SP) | 12 | Jayant Patil | |||
| SP | 2 | Abu Asim Azmi | |||
| PWPI | 1 | Shyamsundar Shinde | |||
| Unallied | |||||
| AlMIM | 2 | Mohammed Ismail Abdul Khalique | |||
| CPI(M) | 1 | Vinod Nikole | |||
| Total | 280 | Vacant 08 | |||
Members of Legislative Assembly edit
References edit
- ^ "Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar Named as Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly". August 2023.
- ^ "Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra CM | DD News". ddnews.gov.in. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ Karthikeyan, Suchitra (22 June 2022). "Maharashtra Political Crisis: MVA slides into minority; here's how the numbers stand". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ Singh, Darpan (21 June 2022). "Maharashtra political crisis: Why MVA coalition has always looked fragile". India Today. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Maharashtra News live: President rule imposed in Maharashtra". The Times of India. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "We will succeed, says Sanjay Raut after setback over Maharashtra govt formation". The Times of India. 12 November 2019. from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Devendra Fadnavis: Maharashtra needs stable, not a 'khichdi' government". The Times of India. 23 November 2019. from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Sharad Pawar: Ajit Pawar's decision to side with BJP his own, not that of NCP". The Times of India. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "'Party and family split': Supriya Sule confirms split within NCP". The Times of India. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: NCP, BJP leaders conduct last-minute meetings; SC to hear Sena-NCP-Congress petition shortly". Firstpost. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ "Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar Quit Ahead Of Maharashtra Floor Test". NDTV. 26 November 2019. from the original on 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Congress & Sena to Bundle MLAs to Jaipur Amid Fears of Poaching; NCP Shifts Lawmakers to Mumbai Hotel". 24 November 2019.
- ^ "Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray to hold joint presser at 12:30pm today". The Times of India. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Uddhav Thackeray, first of his clan, takes oath as chief minister of Maharashtra". IndiaToday. from the original on 28 November 2019.
- ^ "Cross-voting in MLC polls: Uddhav Thackeray calls emergency meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs". ThePrint. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Maharashtra: The political crisis brewing in India's richest state". BBC News. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b "I have 40 MLAs with me: Shinde claims from Guwahati". The Hindu. 22 June 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Assam CM emerges player in Maharashtra political crisis". The Hindu. 22 June 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Maharashtra: The political crisis brewing in India's richest state". BBC News. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
To avoid disqualification under India's anti-defection law, Mr Shinde needs the support of 37 lawmakers in the state. He has claimed the support of 40 Sena lawmakers and six independents, but the number is yet to be independently verified
- ^ "Maharashtra political turmoil live | Ready to quit MVA but come to Mumbai first: Sanjay Raut to rebel MLAs". The Hindu. 23 June 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
On the other hand, Mr. Shinde, who is currently stationed at Guwahati in Assam along with the group of MLAs supporting him, has been claiming the support of the majority of Shiv Sena MLAs and demanding that the Sena ally with the BJP, for the sake of Hindutva, by cutting ties with the Congress and the NCP.
- ^ "As Shiv Sena rebels claim majority, Uddhav Thackeray offers to step down as Maharashtra CM". Deccan Herald. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Maharashtra political crisis updates: Thackeray moves out of official residence". mint. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Maha crisis live: CM Uddhav Thackeray arrives at his family home 'Matoshree'". Hindustan Times. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "37 MLAs Support Shinde As Sena Leader In Signed Letter: 10 Points". NDTV.com. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "BJP MLA Govardhan Sharma passes away at 74 in Akola". The Week. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Maharashtra: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana expels its lone MLA Devendra Bhuyar". 25 March 2022.
- ^ "Maharashtra Politics Highlights: MLA Devendra Bhuyar from Sharad Pawar faction joins Ajit Pawar". 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Congress MLA Sunil Kedar disqualified from Maharashtra assembly after conviction in Rs 150 crore bank scam". The Times of India. 24 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke dies of cardiac arrest in Dubai". The Hindu. PTI. 12 May 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Kasba, Chinchwad (Pune) Bypolls Results Live Updates: Congress wins Kasba". 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Shankarrao Gadakh Patil joins Shiv Sena". Deccan Herald. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "NCP split: Ajit Pawar faction submits 40 responses to Speaker; senior Pawar group nine". TheHindu.com. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.