Shiv Sena attacks BJP, says president's rule is threat and insult To Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Amid the uncertainty that looms in the state of Maharashtra as to which party will form the government, Shiv Sena attacked its ally saying "President's rule threat" by BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is an "insult" to the state.

On Friday, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said that Maharashtra "may head for President's rule if the new government in the state is not in place by November 7". He said the delay in forming the government is because of Sena's demand for Chief Minister's post for the last two and a half years.

When the BJP didn't accept Sena's demand for chief ministership on rotation basis and a "50:50" deal for power sharing, they launched a scathing attack in an editorial in party's mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "Mungantiwar's statements are a proof of the toxicity brewing with the party (BJP) and in his mind. Is the President under your (BJP's) control or President's stamp is at BJP's office which will be used if party is not able to form government in the state and President's rule can be imposed in Maharashtra?" the article further reads.

The BJP won 105 of the state's 288 seats and the Sena finished with 56 in the state election last week. Together, they are comfortably past the 145-majority mark. Sharad Pawar's NCP placed third in the Maharashtra election with 54 seats, just two behind the Shiv Sena. The Congress won 44.

The existing Legislative Assembly's tenure in Maharashtra ends on November 8. Mr Mungatiwar on Friday, said: "A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene".

Sena's editorial futher read: "The threat by Sudhir Mungantiwar is unconstitutional... It is an insult to Maharashtra and people's mandate. The question is why is the government not being formed in Maharashtra.... Who will give the answer? If again a BJP leader becomes chief minister and there are no claims to form government, should the people of the state be blamed? The warning to impose President's rule is like Mughals threatening. Maharashtra does not care about these threats, the party stressed in its mouthpiece. The President is the supreme institution of the Constitution... not an individual but representative of the entire country. The country is not in anyone's pocket," said the concluding words of the editorial.