Celebrations erupted in the BJP camp as Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra CM on Wednesday. His announcement came minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test in Maharashtra Assembly.
Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra Chief Minister on Wednesday, June 29. Uddhav Thackeray’s announcement followed soon after the Supreme Court rejected MVA government’s plea seeking a stay on floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Uddhav Thackeray also resigned from the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
India Today was the first channel that broke the news about Uddhav Thackeray’s possible resignation. India Today had reported at 7pm that Uddhav Thackeray told his cabinet ministers today that he would resign as CM if the Supreme Court refuses to stay the floor test in the Assembly.
Announcing his decision via video address, Uddhav Thackeray expressed his gratitude to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar for their support.
“I want to express my gratitude to the people of NCP and Congress that they supported me. From Shiv Sena, Anil Parab, Subhash Desai and Aaditya Thackeray, these people were only present when the proposal was passed while NCP and Congress people also supported the proposal,” Uddhav Thackeray
“Bad luck has struck our government,” Uddhav Thackeray said announcing his resignation from the top post.
Uddhav Thackeray expressed his disappointment with the Shinde faction, saying that he gave the rebel MLAs all that they wanted.
Accompanied by sons Aaditya and Tejas, he drove to Raj Bhavan and handed over his resignation letter as CM to Koshyari around midnight. The Governor accepted his resignation.
RETURN OF FADNAVIS?
Sources told India Today that Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis, may return as chief minister for the third time. Fadnavis is likely to take oath on July 1, sources said.
BJP REJOICES
BJP leaders, waiting in the wings for staging a comeback to power in the state, celebrated Thackeray’s announcement that he was stepping down as chief minister. State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil was seen treating party colleague Devendra Fadnavis, slated to return as CM, with sweets.
Shortly after Thackeray stepped down, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said party colleague Devendra Fadnavis and rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will take a call on the next court of action. The state BJP unit has asked all its MLAs to gather in Mumbai. Patil has also asked the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs not to come to Mumbai today, and arrive only on the day of oath-taking.
SUPREME COURT’S DECISION
The Supreme Court refused to stay Maharashtra Governor’s direction to the MVA government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday.
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala said Thursday’s proceeding in the Assembly will be subject to the final outcome of Shiv Sena’s plea against Governor’s decision.
The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Secretary of Legislative Assembly and others on plea against the Governor’s direction for the floor test.
“We have drafted this short order. We are not staying the floor test as convened by the Governor. We are issuing notice in the writ petition. You can file a counter in five days. We will hear on merits along with other cases on July 11. Tomorrow’s proceeding will depend on the final outcome of this petition,” the Supreme Court bench said.
MAHARASHTRA FLOOR TEST
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari asked CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority on the floor of the house on Thursday.
Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has claimed the support of 50 dissident MLAs from his own party and independents, contending that they can pass “any floor test” number.
Eknath Shinde said, “We have 50 MLAs with us, more than two-third of the legislators. We are not worried about the floor test and we will pass the test.”
MUMBAI POLICE BEEFS UP SECURITY
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have stepped up security near Vidhan Bhavan ahead of the floor test slated for Thursday and along the route that the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena are likely to take from the airport.
Police have imposed section 144 of the CrPC banning the assembly of five or more persons and will not allow anybody to gather near the Vidhan Bhavan and surrounding areas in south Mumbai.
(With inputs from PTI)
