Breaking news on November 25

Constitution Day: Opposition parties will boycott the President Ram Nath Kovind's address at the joint sitting of Parliament tomorrow. They will also protest in front of the Ambedkar Statue in Parliament.

Kashmiri political leaders Dilawar Mir and Ghulam Hassan Mir released from house arrest: Officials.

All MLAs are taking oath at the Grand Hyatt to stick to the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP combine. They also vowed not to fall prey to any inducements by BJP. 

Sharad Pawar: We are here together for people of Maharashtra. A govt was formed in state without majority. Karnataka, Goa, & Manipur, BJP didn't have majority anywhere but formed government.

Sharad Pawar: There will not be any problem in proving our majority. The one who is suspended from the party cannot give any orders. On the day of floor test, I will bring more than 162 MLAs. This is not Goa, this is Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar: 162 MLAs are present here, the strength will only increase

Sharad Pawar: You saw how power was misused in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar's decision was against the party

Congress leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said at the Grand Hyatt hotel, "Come and see for yourself, we are 162"

You (BJP) didn't realise Shiv Sena's power, now you will see our mettle: Uddhav Thackeray

Our fight is for Satyameva Jayate, not 'Satta'mev Jayate: Uddhav Thackeray

Congress leader Ashok Chavan: We are more than 162, not just 162. We all will be a part of the govt. I thank Sonia Gandhi who allowed for this alliance to stop BJP. Guv should invite us to form govt.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad to MLAs: An oath will be taken here.

Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine, are present at the Grand Hyatt. The trio claims to have 162 MLAs on its side. 

Uddhav, Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge at Grand Hyatt

Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray have reached the Grand Hyatt hotel. 

Uddhav Thackeray reaches Grand Hyatt hotel

Pictures from inside the Grand Hyatt hotel, Mumbai

Pictures from inside the Grand Hyatt hotel, Mumbai

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis sanctions another ₹5380 crore from Maharashtra Contingency Fund to give relief to unseasonal rain-affected farmers.

Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress' show of force at Hyatt hotel at 7 pm.

Senior Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut tweeted, "We are all one and together, watch our 162 together for the first time at Grand Hyatt at 7 pm, come and watch yourself  @maha_governor"

Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla has said that whatever happened in the parliament is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. "House should function, it should not get adjourned," the Speaker said after Congress protests in the parliament against Maharashtra government formation.

SC to UP Chief Secretary, "We are not foing to spare you now"

Stubble burning has increased, why shouldn't we penalize you and your machinery? We are not going to spare you now, everybody should know we are not going to spare anyone of you.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary tells Supreme Court 

Around 1000 FIRs have been filed against stubble burning and a fine of around Rs 1 Crore has been imposed. SC asks UP Chief Secretary for positive actions and not the coercive ones.

We had discussions with Ajit Pawar once, hoping for another meeting with him soon: Jayant Patil

DCP Pramod Kushwaha, Delhi Police Special Cell: A terror strike has been averted as three persons have been apprehended with Improvised explosive devices (IED).

NIA court finds six people, arrested in connection with a 2016 ISIS terror plot case, guilty of conspiring to carry out strikes across Kerala and neighbouring states

"Why are people being forced to live in gas chambers? It is better to kill them all in one go, get explosives in 15 bags at one go. Why should people suffer all this? In Delhi blame game is going on, I am literally shocked:" Supreme Court to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta

Supreme Court asks Haryana Government why stubble burning has increased in the state. Says, “You (Haryana government) had done a good job earlier in controlling stubble burning, but now it has increased. Punjab & Haryana are not doing anything”

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla may suspend Congress MPs Hibi Eden and T N Prathapan for storming the Well of the House and obstructing Parliament proceedings by shouting slogans to protest against the swearing-in of a BJP-led government in Maharashtra, sources said on Monday.

Congress leaders carrying placards with messages like "save Constitution" and "save democracy" and a black banner which said "stop the murder of democracy" jostled with the marshals.

According to the sources, the suspension of the two MPs was "imminent" as Birla was "upset" with their refusal to apologise for their conduct.
The BJP also accused Congress members of bringing "shame" to Lok Sabha with their "unruly" conduct in the House. 

• SC takes serious note of stubble burning in Punjab despite orders prohibiting it, says people in Delhi can't be left to die due to pollution
• Can you treat people like this and permit them to die due to pollution in Delhi-NCR, asks SC
• Life span of millions of citizens has shortened and people are "suffocating" due to pollution in Delhi-NCR, says SC
• SC pulls up Haryana govt for increase in instances of stubble burning in the state after its order prohibiting it

Vehement protests by opposition members, especially those of the Congress, in Lok Sabha over political developments in Maharashtra forced adjournments of its proceedings for the day. Congress members stormed the Well of the House carrying placards and a big banner sporting slogans against the swearing-in of a BJP-led government in the state. The House was first adjourned till noon and then till 2 pm before being adjourned for the day.

A stationary bus caught fire in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas area on Monday, a Delhi Fire Service official said. No passenger was present inside the bus when the blaze broke out, the official said.

A call about the fire was received at 1.40 pm after which three fire tenders were pressed into service, the official added. 

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday following uproar by Congress, other opposition parties over developments in Maharashtra

Amid slogan shouting by opposition members, a bill to amend the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act was introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday by
Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishen Reddy. This comes days after the government withdrew the elite security cover provided to members of the Gandhi family.

According to the proposed amendment, family members of former prime ministers would not be entitled to the coveted SPG security cover. Now elite SPG commandos will protect only the prime minister. They can also protect former prime ministers depending on the threat perception to them.

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman introduced the Taxation Law (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday that seeks to cut corporate tax rate.
She also introduced the International Financial Services Centre Authority Bill amid sloganeering by opposition members over the issue of government formation in Maharashtra. The bill seeks to provide for a unified financial regulator for IFSCs.

Twenty-seven people were injured after a private bus fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, the police said on Monday. The private bus fell into the 200-feet deep gorge in Jawali area. More details are awaited, they added.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday alleged that women parliamentarians of his party were "manhandled" in the Lok Sabha when they were protesting in the Well of the House over the Maharashtra government formation.

CM Devendra Fadnavis’ first signature of this tenure was done on a CM Relief Fund cheque, on reaching Mantralaya, which was handed over to Kusum Vengurlekar by the Chief Minister: Chief Minister's Office, Maharashtra

A terrorist has been arrested in Baramulla, by J&K police and a hand grenade has been recovered from his possession.

Shiv Sena MLAs have been brought to Hotel Lemon Tree, from Lalit Hotel where they were earlier lodged.

• BJP govt gave stability, good governance in Jharkhand; first time in state's history a chief minister completed five-year term
• No matter what opposition parties say, BJP will continue to protect Jharkhand's 'jal', jungle and 'jameen' (water, forest and land)
•  BJP has made an effort to free Jharkhand off Naxals and create a peaceful environment here.
• Naxalism was an issue due to political instability here. Govts used to get toppled here, they didn't want to serve people but simply enjoy the power...How could there have been proper roads, industries & electricity, given the situation which was here.

"Jharkhand, especially Palamu, has always been a strong fortress for BJP. If lotus is blooming across the country today, it's due to the blessings of the people here & the party workers. The people here have always stood by 'kamal'," PM Modi in Daltonganj

Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP believe this is a murder of democracy in Maharashtra. We demanded floor test to prove that the majority rests with our alliance. The Supreme Court heard all arguments and reserved the order. We are confident that in Maharashtra, floor test will give the BJP a befitting reply

"This morning at 10am, Eknath Shinde, Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan, Vinayak Raut ji, Azmi, KC Padvi and I - on behalf of the NCP, gave a letter to the Governor showing the strength of 162 MLAs:" Jayant Patil said

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will pass its order at 10.30 am on Tuesday on the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine's plea against the Maharashtra Governor's decision to swear in Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister.

A bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna is likely to pass an order on holding of a floor test. The combine was pressing that the floor test be ordered today itself which was opposed by Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. 

If BJP has a majority, why is it worried? I am happy to lose on the floor of Maha Assembly: Singhvi to SC, seeking immediate floor test.

As Supreme Court hearing on alliance plea is underway, Shiv Sena MLAs being shifted from Hotel Lalit.

According to reports, a bus has arrived at Hotel Lalit where Shiv Sena MLAs have been staying. They will be shifted to another hotel after the top court's decision.

It's fraud of worst kind, did a single NCP MLA tell Ajit Pawar that he supported him to go with BJP: Shingvi tells SC

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, too calls for an immediate floor test today or tomorrow, after Kapil Sibal who is representing Shiv Sena in  Supreme Court

The Supreme Court bench refuses to take on record the affidavits of 154 MLAs (48 from NCP, 56 from Sena, 44 from Congress, Other independent totalling 154) saying that the scope of the petition can't be expanded.

When both the groups are open for Floor Test, why should there be a delay? Does a single NCP MLA here say we will join the BJP alliance? Is there a single covering letter saying this. This was the fraud committed on democracy, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing NCP & Congress in the Supreme Court

"Floor test should be conducted in 24 hrs. A senior member of House should conduct it with videography & single ballot. It is in the cover of night that for some, new opportunities come knocking, let floor test be conducted in full light," Kapil Sibal said.

Sr advocate Maninder Singh appears for Ajit Pawar, says he represents NCP and Maha governor rightly invited Devendra Fadnavis to form govt.

No case for grant of interim order has been made out by Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, says BJP tells Supreme Court

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Maharashtra BJP, tells court: "The Governor saw the support of 170 MLAs. It is not a forged letter. The (BJP) was called and it took the oath."

Kapil Sibal, appearing for Shiv Sena asks, what was the national emergency that President rule was revoked at 5.17 and swearing-in was at 8 am? President rule was revoked at 5.17 am that means everything happened before 5.17

Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra govt, says in Supreme Court - I will file an affidavit on the plea. There is no need for an interim order in the case

Letter by Congress-NCP -Shiv Sena given at Raj Bhawan staking claim to form a government, saying that the present govt doesn't have the numbers

Justice Sanjiv Khanna says, while citing the past judgement of the court in similar cases, floor test was done in 24 hours in most of the cases, in some - 48 hours.

Lok Sabha adjourned till noon following continued sloganeering by Opposition leaders.

Grant us 2-3 days' time and let us file a reply. The Governor has in absolute discretion invited the largest party on November 23, says Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for Maharashtra Governor

Opposition leaders raise slogan of 'Samvidhan ki hatya bandh karo, bandh karo' during Question Hour in Lok Sabha

The Governor then wrote to the President and requested for revocation of the President's Rule; Governor in his wisdom invited the leader of the largest party. Devendra Fadnavis has support of 170 MLAs

 The present position is, Governor has invited the majority alliance in the House to form govt. Devendra Fadnavis staked claim following the letter of Ajit Pawar along with letters of support of 11 independent & other MLAs.

Whether Chief Minister enjoys majority support on the floor of House has to be decided, Supreme Court said.

"I wanted to ask a question in the House but it doesn't make any sense to ask a question right now as democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha

It's nobody's case that letters have been forged, Maharashtra governor acted correctly so it is the end of their case: BJP to SC

I met Ajit Pawar, he had the support of 54 NCP MLAs so Maharashtra Governor asked him to form govt

The Governor then wrote to the President and requested for revocation of the President's Rule; Governor in his wisdom invited leader of the largest party. Devendra Fadnavis has support of 170 MLAs

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi for BJP and some independent MLAs refer to Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar's letter supporting Devendra Fadnavis. 

Maharashtra governor not supposed to conduct a roving, fishing inquiry to ascertain which party has numbers to form govt: Centre to SC.

Present position is, Governor has invited the majority alliance in the House to form govt. Devendra Fadnavis staked claim following the letter of Ajit Pawar along with letters of support of 11 independent & other MLAs: Solicitor General to Supreme Court 

Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi leads party's protest in Parliament premises over Maharashtra government formation issue

Solicitor General explains Maharashtra governor had invited Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP for govt formation and President's rule was imposed only after they failed

Tushar Mehta representing Governor in Supreme Court says, Ajit Pawar's November 22 letter to Governor reads that he needs a stable govt & President rule can't go on indefinitely; letter says BJP had earlier asked Ajit Pawar to join them to form govt but at that time he had declined due to insufficient support from NCP MLAs.

After being assured that no party was in a position to form government in Maharashtra, the governor recommended President rule in state: Centre tells Supreme Court

Maharashtra governor was cognizant of facts, situation after polls results that had led to invoking of President rule in state: Centre to SC. 

Meanwhile, Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena leaders submitted a letter of MLAs supporting their alliance, to the officials at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Centre submits two key letters of Maharashtra --Governor inviting BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to form government in Maharashtra and CM Devendra Fadnavis's letter in Supreme Court.

Ajit Pawar's letter pledging support to BJP government in Maharashtra has signatures of 54 NCP MLAs," Mehta tells Supreme Court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to SC - Shiv Sena has 56, NCP 54, INC 44 seats. There was talk about horse-trading but Guv possibly felt that entire stable is stolen. I'm seeking time to file reply as there are questions which need to be discussed

 Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to Supreme Court: I have the original documents with me

Mehta says, "My Lordships would have heard about horse-trading but this could be a case where the entire stable has been stolen."

Kapil Sibal -- representing Shiv Sena and Abhishek Manu Singhvi -- representing Congress-NCP, Mukul Rohatgi -- representing Maharashtra BJP and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta present in the courtroom at the Supreme Court.

Three-judge SC bench assembles to hear Shiv Sena-NCP-Cong's plea against Maharashtra Governor's decision to swear in Devendra Fadnavis as CM

 Supreme Court begins hearing on a petition jointly filed by the NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena against the formation of BJP-led government in Maharashtra

"Today, the record of Governor to be placed. I've seen that along with a letter of Devendra Fadnavis there was a letter by Ajit Pawar as head of the legislative party with signatures of all NCP MLAs.Guv was right in granting an invitation to him to form govt, said M Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra BJP in SC 

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande on Monday took a jibe at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar amid ongoing Maha drama in the state. Deshpande tweets, "Those who still think this was only Ajit Pawar's doing, I want to wish Happy Children's Day to them."

Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP leaders reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari with letter of support ahead of SC hearing

"There are four people in 'Operation Kamal'; CBI, ED, Income Tax dept and Police carry out 'Operation Kamal'. But it will not yield any result here. If you have the majority then why do you need an 'Operation Kamal'? Raut said

 "They (BJP) are not ready to keep up their promise to give term of 2.5 years of CM post to Shiv Sena but reportedly they are ready to give the same to Ajit Pawar," claims Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP likely to submit affidavits' by 160 MLAs' in Supreme Court

We'll seriously raise issue of Maharashtra. We'll stall proceedings in both Houses. Govt is killing democracy from Arunachal to Goa, now Karnataka & then Maharashtra. We've already discussed with like-minded parties, says K Suresh, Congress after party's Parliamentary Strategy Group meets: 

Shiv Sena leader Anil Desai arrives at the Supreme Court; SC to continue to hear today the petition jointly filed by the NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena against the formation of BJP-led government in Maharashtra

'We have support of 165 MLAs. 53 NCP MLAs are with us. Ajit Pawar has done a mistake, he should resign,' says NCP leader Nawab Malik

'Devendra Fadnavis must realise that he does not have a majority. He should realise that he has made a mistake. If he doesn't resign, we will certainly defeat the government on the floor of the House,' he added.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Ghulam Nabi Azad, KC Venugopal and other leaders of Congress party arrive at 10 Janpath for Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meet.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused the BJP of disregarding the Constitution in Maharashtra and repeating the "game" it played in Karnataka. The Congress had accused the BJP of poaching MLAs to form the government in Karnataka earlier this year.

"Have we reached the stage of open kidnapping of the mandate?" Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and Congress' Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, K Suresh have given adjournment motion notice in the House on Maharashtra crisis

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal reaches Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's residence to talk to him

NCP MLAs Anil Patil and Daulat Daroda at Hotel Hyatt where other MLAs of the party are lodged in. They were brought from Gurugram by Sonia Doohan, President of NCP's Nationalist Student Congress and Dheeraj Sharma, President of NCP's Nationalist Youth Congress. 

Two more NCP MLAs return to Mumbai, 52 legislators with us, claims Nawab Malik

52 MLAs have come back to us, one more is in touch with us, says NCP leader Nawab Malik

Eknath Shinde, Balasaheb Thorat and Jayant Patil to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan with the support letter and a signature of almost 160 MLAs which they are going to submit.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar leaves for Karad to attend an event on the death anniversary of former #Maharashtra Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address public rallies in Daltonganj and Gumla in Jharkhand, today.