Maharashtra govt formation: Highlights from November 26

Ajit Pawar has met Sharad Pawar at his residence. This is for the first time the two have met after Ajit Pawar stepped down from the Deputy CM post earlier today. 

Ajit Pawar is on the way to meet his uncle, Sharad Pawar at his residence Silver Oak. 

Sanjay Raut has said that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray. 

"I accept the responsibility given by all of you. I'm not alone but you all are CM with me. What has happened today is the actual democracy. Together we will wipe off the tears of farmers in the state."

"I'm ready to answer all questions raised by Devendra Fadnavis. I am not scared of anything. Lies are not part of Hindutva. When needed you hug us and when not needed you leave us. You tried to keep us away."

The alliance will take Maharashtra to new heights, Uddhav Thackeray said.

"I had never dreamed of leading the state. I would like to thank Sonia Gandhi and others. We are giving a new direction to country by keeping faith on each other," Shiv Sena chief and CM candidate of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', Uddhav Thackeray said.

Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony to take place at 5 pm on December 1. Earlier, Uddhav was elected as the leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. 

Shiv Sena's Anil Desai: 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', the alliance of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress will have a Coordination Committee.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde moves resolution to form 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', the alliance of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress. NCP's Nawab Malik and Congress' Nitin Raut second it. The resolution has been passed by all MLAs.

NCP workers raise slogan of "Maharashtra cha ekch wagh, Sharad Pawar Sharad Pawar" (There is only one tiger in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar Sharad Pawar) upon the arrival of party chief Sharad Pawar at Trident Hotel, for NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress joint meeting.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray have arrived at the Trident for the Maha Aghadi meet. 

Jayant Patil, NCP, ahead of the joint meeting of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress: 

Ajit Pawar will not come for today's meeting. There has not been contact with him. But I have been meeting him since 2 days, I will meet him today as well.

A bus carrying Shiv Sena MLAs arrive at Trident Hotel, Mumbai.

Governor calls special session of Maharashtra Assembly at 8 am tomorrow. All MLAs to take oath in the session. 

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has given her consent to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the three parties (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress), ANI reports. CMP to be released after the joint meeting today. Modalities have been finalised between the alliance parties, sources told the news agency. 

We demand that Uddhav Thackeray be invited to form government in Maharashtra immediately: Prithviraj Chavan 

Devendra Fadnavis in his press conference said that Ajit Pawar resigned from the post of the Deputy CM because of personal reasons. 

Devendra Fadnavis has reached the Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari

The post-poll alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress is most likely to elect Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray as their CM candidate after the resignation of Devendra Fadnavis. 

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is on his way to the Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation to the Governor. 

Addressing the media, Devendra Fadnavis said that the BJP never promised CM post to the Shiv Sena.

Three days after taking oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, NCP's Ajit Pawar on Tuesday resigned from the post, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday. Pawar resignation came just hours after the Supreme Court of India ordered an immediate floor test in the Maharashtra assembly.

Read More

"I hope the Governor will listen to us and make Balasaheb Thorat, the senior most member of the House, the Pro-Tem Speaker.  It's you from whom I have come to know about the resignation of Ajit Pawar. I don't know about it, I would like to make a comment on it only after getting to know everything about it," NCP leader Jayant Patil said 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address the media at 3.30 pm today.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to address press conference at 3:30 pm

A meeting was held at the Prime Minister's chamber at the Parliament today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national working president JP Nadda were present at the meeting.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena and the Congress MLAs will hold a joint meeting at 5 pm today to elect the leader of their alliance.

Meeting of NCP and Shiv Sena leaders underway at Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. Leaders including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal,Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut present

Former Prime Minister & Congress leader Manmohan Singh on 'if NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress will be able to form a govt in Maharashtra': I hope they will. We all respect the Supreme Court, we should respect its judgement

Meeting of Congress MLAs underway at JW Marriott Hotel. Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Balasaheb Thorat & Ashok Chavan are present in the meeting

Maharashtra Congress President Balasaheb Thorat elected Congress Legislative Party leader. Thorat is the senior-most MLA and trusted aid of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He is also close to Rahul Gandhi.

"We will prove our majority. Tonight at 9 pm, all BJP MLAs will meet at Garware Club in Mumbai," says BJP leader Rao Saheb Danve.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and chief spokesperson Nawab Malik arrive at Hotel Sofitel to meet their party MLAs. Some NCP MLAs are staying at the Hotel.

I am grateful to Hon’ble SC for upholding democratic values and constitutional principles. It’s heartening that the Maharashtra Verdict came on the Constitution Day, a Tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar!

BJP MLA Haribhau Bagade arrives at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He was the Speaker of the previous assembly and officially, he is the Speaker till the next Speaker assumes charge. He arrived in the official car of the Speaker

Truth has won. The court has given 30 hours, we can prove majority in 30 minutes, says Sanjay Raut on Supreme Court Order on Maharashtra floor test

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar arrives at the residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for party's core committee meeting, ANI has reported.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi welcomed the Supreme Court's order to hold a floor test in Maharashtra within 24 hours or by Wednesday. "We will win the floor test," she said

Respect SC order; we are ready to prove majority, says Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on Supreme court order on floor test

These are the six names for Pro-tem Speaker that have been submitted to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. He will decide who the Protem Speaker will be: 

1) Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (BJP)
2) Kalidas Kolambkar (BJP)
3) Babanrao Pachpute (BJP)
4) Balasaheb Thorat (Congress)
5) Kagda Chandya Padvi (Congress)
6) Dilip Walse-Patil (NCP)

Today's verdict of the SC is a milestone in Indian democracy. Before 5 pm tomorrow, it will be clear that BJP's game is over. In a few days, there will a govt of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress in Maharashtra.

Ashish Shelar, Raosaheb Danve, Girish Mahajan, Bhupendra Yadav and other BJP leaders arrive at the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for party's core committee meeting.

The floor test in the Maharashtra assembly for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the assembly will be conducted on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed on Tuesday. The apex court also directed Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ensure that all elected members of the house are sworn in on Wednesday itself. The entire exercise has to be completed by 5 pm.

A bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna also said the entire proceedings have to be telecast live. Voting in the assembly shall not be on the basis of the secret ballot, it said.

The governor will also appoint a pro-tem speaker who will administer oath to the newly elected members. 

Submissions to be made by all means parties within a period of 8 weeks as the issues regarding judicial review of Governor’s decision remains.

1. Floor test must be conducted by 5 pm tomorrow (27 Nov). 
2. It must be telecast live. 
3. Protem speaker to be appointed to conduct the same. 
4. It should not be by secret ballot

Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal appearing for Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Supreme Court, mentioned before the SC to restrain the Devendra Fadnavis Government from taking important policy decisions.

All elected members in Maharashtra assembly to take oath on Nov 27, says Supreme Court

Supreme Court Judges urge for the appointment of protem speaker for floor test which should be completed before 5 pm tomorrow

Reading out the Order, Justice Ramana: Constitutional morality needs to be promoted while finding a way to balance opposing claims. At the interim stage, these issues need to be addressed.

No secret ballots for Maharashtra floor test, orders Supreme Court

Supreme Court orders live telecast of Maharashtra floor test before 5 pm.

READ MORE:

Supreme Court orders Maharashtra floor test before 5 pm tomorrow (November 27).

"We request Maha governor to ensure floor test be held on Nov 27," says Supreme Court

Justice Ramana begins reading order on Maharashtra floor test.

Bench assembles. Justices Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna preside. 

Kapil Sibal representing Shiv Sena, Tushar Mehta present in Supreme Court. Congress leaders including, Prithviraj Chauhan present in Supreme Court

"The Legislature Secretariat has received a letter claiming that Jayant Patil is the Legislative Party Leader for NCP. But, the decision has to be taken by the Speaker. As of today, the decision has not been taken," says Rajendra Bhagwat, Maharashtra Legislature Secretary.

The Supreme Court is set to pass an order on floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly at 10:30 am 

We are confirmed that Ajit Pawar is the leader of NCP on the Floor of the House, and his whip will hold as leader of legislature party: BJP leader Ashish Shelar

Ajit Pawar who switched sides and became Deputy CM in the BJP-led Maharashtra government was, missing from yesterday's meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis at the Secretariat. The Deputy Chief Minister was also absent during the official programme to pay respect at Police Memorial on 11th anniversary of 26/11.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari pay tribute at Police Memorial at Marine Drive on 11th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress plans to approach the Supreme Court against the closing of nine corruption cases in the 70,000-crore irrigation scam allegedly involving NCP's Ajit Pawar. A joint petition by three parties is ready to be filed. 

The three parties have also asked the court to call for a floor test within 24 hours and stop the state government from taking any policy decisions until it proves its majority in the state assembly.

"The Devendra Fadnavis Government cannot make policy decisions before the floor test," the petition read.

Calling the decision to close cases against Ajit Pawar "illegal", the plea seeks a stay on the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) move to close cases.

Women's rights activist Trupti Desai reaches Kochi, to visit Sabarimala to offer prayers at Lord Ayyappa shrine.

"We'll visit Sabarimala temple today on Constitution Day. Neither state government nor the police can stop us from visiting the temple. Whether we get security or not we will visit the temple today.

Sensex jumps over 200 pts to hit record high of 41,100.82 in early trade; Nifty scales lifetime peak of 12,126.05. 

Supreme Court to pass an order at 10:30 am today on the petition jointly filed by the NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena against the formation of BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to pay tribute at Police Memorial at Marine Drive on 11th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, in Mumbai

Nine people were killed while 17 injured in a collision between a UP Roadways bus and a truck in the Tindwari police station area here on Monday afternoon, police said.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and the UPSRTC announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 2.5 lakh for those who sustained serious injuries. The accident took place near the Saimiri turn this afternoon, SP (Banda) Ganesh Prasad Saha said.    

 A 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing two-wheelers, police said here on Monday. The accused has been identified as Rakesh.
A country-made pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from him, they said.

"After receiving a tip-off, a raid was conducted near Satyawti Colony and Rakesh was nabbed. During interrogation, he disclosed his involvement in several cases of auto theft. Three more stolen vehicles were recovered," Vijayanta Arya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest), said.

A head constable of Nagpur Police was on Monday arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 for releasing the money seized during a gambling raid in 2013, an ACB official said. The accused Ravindra Chichghate (54), attached to Jaripatka police station, had demanded the bribe from the
accused for releasing Rs 41,700 seized during a gambling raid.

At least eight people were killed and several others injured when a bus and a truck collided head-on in Northwest Pakistan on Monday.\

The accident occurred in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when the bus carrying passengers hit the truck coming from the opposite direction.

"Eight people were killed and over 20 injured were shifted to the DHQ hospital," Jawad Khalil, the District Emergency Officer 1122 said.