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{{Infobox event
| title = 2019 Maharashtra political crisis
|image ={{Photomontage
|photo1a= Devendra fadnavis.png
|photo1b= Uddhav Thackeray.png
|photo1c= Sharad Govindrao Pawar.jpg
| position = center
| size = 300
| color = #F5F5F5
| border = 1
| color_border = black
| spacing = 3
| foot_montage =
|text= {{center|[[Devendra Fadnavis]] (left), [[Uddhav Thackeray]] (centre), [[Sharad Pawar]] (right)}}
}}
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| english_name =
| time =
| duration =
| date = 24 October 2019 – 27 November 2019
| venue =
| location = [[Maharashtra]], India
| coordinates =
| also_known_as = 2019 Maharashtra government formation
| type = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary crisis and government formation]]
| theme =
| cause = Split in [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]-[[Shiv Sena]] alliance
| participants = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP)<br>[[Shiv Sena]] (SHS)<br>[[Nationalist Congress Party]] (NCP)<br>[[Indian National Congress]] (INC)<br> [[Independent Politician|Other political parties and Independents]]
| outcome = Formation of [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] Government
}}
A political crisis in the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]] occurred after the [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019 legislative assembly election]] over the formation of a new [[Government of Maharashtra|state government]]. With no political party able to prove their majority in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|legislative assembly]], [[president's rule]] was imposed in the state following a recommendation by the [[Governor of Maharashtra]] [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]].

The President's rule was later revoked and the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], led by former Chief Minister [[Devendra Fadnavis]], formed a government with the help of a small faction of the [[Nationalist Congress Party]], led by [[Ajit Pawar]]. After three days, Fadnavis and Pawar resigned. A new government was formed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a new alliance of [[Shiv Sena]], the [[Indian National Congress]], and the [[Nationalist Congress Party]], under [[Uddhav Thackeray]].

==Background==
[[File:Maharashtra 2019 election vidhan sabha.jpg|400px|thumb|Seat share of [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election]]]]
The [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] has 288 seats. In the [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019 election]], the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) won 105 seats, [[Shiv Sena]] won 56, the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] (NCP) won 54, and the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) won 44. [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]] (AIMIM) and [[Samajwadi Party]] (SP) won two seats each while [[Maharashtra Navnirman Sena]] (MNS) and the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI (M)) won one seat each. 23 seats were won by other parties and independents. 145 seats are required for a majority to form government.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/statewiseS131.htm | title=Constituency Wise results - Maharashtra 2019 | work=Election Commission of India | accessdate=25 October 2019 | archive-date=30 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130023222/http://results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/statewiseS131.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Two alliances contested the election: the [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) or ''Maha Yuti'', a BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, and the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) or ''Maha-aghadi'' between the NCP and INC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/maharashtra-government-formation-live-updates-president-rule-imposed-ram-nath-kovind-uddhav-thackeray-sharad-pawar-ncp-congress-bjp-governor-latest-news-7630851.html|title=President's Rule in Maharashtra LIVE Updates: Supreme Court to take up Shiv Sena plea against Governor's refusal to extend deadline at 10.30 am tomorrow|website=Firstpost|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref>

== Crisis ==

After the declaration of election results on 24 October, Shiv Sena declined to support the BJP to form the government, on demand an equal share in power which was promised by BJP. Shiv Sena also demanded the post of [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]] for 2.5 years according to 50-50 promise.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="TOI1"/>But BJP declined such promise and eventually ended breaking ties with one of their oldest ally [[Shiv Sena]].

On 8 November 2019, the [[List of governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]] [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]] 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 a 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/we-will-succeed-says-sanjay-raut-after-setback-over-maharashtra-govt-formation/articleshow/72017496.cms|title=We will succeed, says Sanjay Raut after setback over Maharashtra govt formation|date=2019-11-12|website=The Times of India|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> The next day, after the NCP also failed to gain majority support, the governor recommended [[President's Rule|president's rule]] to the [[Council of Ministers of India]] and the [[President of India|President]]. This was accepted, and [[president's rule]] was imposed.<ref name="TOI1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-news-live-awaiting-congresss-response-cant-decide-alone-says-ncp/liveblog/72000247.cms|title=Maharashtra News live: President rule imposed in Maharashtra|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sharad-pawar-uddhav-thackeray-to-hold-joint-presser-at-1230pm-today/articleshow/72195007.cms|title=Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray to hold joint presser at 12:30pm today|date=2019-11-23|website=The Times of India|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref>
=== First Government Formation ===
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/devendra-fadnvais-takes-oath-as-cm-ncps-ajit-pawar-deputy-cm/articleshow/72193254.cms|title=Devendra Fadnavis: Maharashtra needs stable, not a 'khichdi' government|last=|first=|date=2019-11-23|website=The Times of India|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawars-decision-to-side-with-bjp-his-own-not-that-of-ncp-sharad-pawar/articleshow/72194106.cms|title=Sharad Pawar: Ajit Pawar's decision to side with BJP his own, not that of NCP|date=2019-11-23|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref> The NCP split into two factions: one led by Sharad Pawar and the other led by his nephew Ajit Pawar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/party-and-family-split-supriya-sule-confirms-split-within-ncp/articleshow/72195507.cms|title='Party and family split': Supriya Sule confirms split within NCP|date=2019-11-23|website=The Times of India|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref> 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 of India|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/maharashtra-political-crisis-live-updates-government-formation-latest-news-today-bjp-devendra-fadnavis-maharashtra-cm-2019-ajit-pawar-sharad-pawar-shiv-sena-ncp-congress-supreme-court-floor-test-7691871.html|title=Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: NCP, BJP leaders conduct last-minute meetings; SC to hear Sena-NCP-Congress petition shortly|first=|date=2019-11-24|website=Firstpost|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-24}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/devendra-fadnavis-resigns-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-ahead-of-floor-test-tomorrow-2138939|title=Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar Quit Ahead Of Maharashtra Floor Test|last=|first=|date=2019-11-26|website=NDTV|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref>

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.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/politics/resort-politics-begins-in-maharashtra-as-congress-mlas-headed-to-bhopal-shiv-sena-on-road-to-jaipur-2397757.html</ref>

=== Second Government Formation ===
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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uddhav-thackeray-maharashtra-chief-minister-1623468-2019-11-28|title=Uddhav Thackeray, first of his clan, takes oath as chief minister of Maharashtra|last=|first=|date=|website=IndiaToday|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>

==Timeline==
; '''9 November'''
: The [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] is invited to form government.
; '''10 November'''
: The BJP declines to form a government due to a lack of a majority. [[Shiv Sena]] is invited to form government.
; '''11 November'''
: [[Shiv Sena]] fails to get support. The [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] is invited to form government.
; '''12 November'''
: The NCP is invited form government. [[President's rule]] is proposed by the Governor and later approved and imposed by the [[Union Cabinet]].
; '''22 November'''
: [[Shiv Sena]], [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]], [[Indian National Congress|INC]] unanimously decided to form government under the leadership of [[Uddhav Thackeray]].
; '''23 November'''
: At midnight, the BJP with NCP's [[Ajit Pawar]] claimed to form government. This was accepted by the Governor and a recommendation to lift president's rule was sent to the central government. At 5:47 am, president's rule was lifted from Maharashtra. In the early morning, at 8 am, [[Devendra Fadnavis]] and [[Ajit Pawar]] took oath as [[Chief Minister]] and [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] respectively.
: Shiv Sena, INC, NCP petition the Supreme Court for a special hearing.
; '''24 November'''
: The [[Supreme Court Of India]] sets up a Special Bench.
; '''26 November'''
: The Supreme Court issues an order for a floor test to prove majority within 24 hours to [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
:First,Ajit Pawar as he decided to rejoin both in his both his party and family and little later Devendra Fadnavis resigned due to lack of majority.
: Shiv Sena, NCP, INC and other parties approached the Governor to stake claim to form government
; '''28 November'''
: [[Uddhav Thackeray]] sworn in as [[Chief minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister Of Maharashtra]]
; '''30 November'''
: Thackeray passes floor test with 169 votes in favour after BJP and allies walked out from the Assembly
; '''1 December'''
: [[Nana Patole]] from INC elected Speaker unopposed after BJP withdrew its candidature

==See also==

*[[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election]]
*[[2019 Karnataka political crisis]]
*[[2015 Bihar political crisis]]

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=History of Maharashtra (1947–present), 2019 in Indian politics, Politics of Maharashtra, Political crises in India
|description=
}}

[[Category:History of Maharashtra (1947–present)]]
[[Category:2019 in Indian politics]]
[[Category:Politics of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Political crises in India]]

2019 Maharashtra political crisis - Revision history

MetaBOT at 20:02, 8 July 2023