The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan has submitted his resignation to the Governor of Maharashtra, C Vidyasagar Rao on Friday. His Government had become a minority after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) withdrew its support to the Chavan government on Thursday evening.
Chavan submitted his resignation letter to the Governor after a long discussion to appraise him of the situation.
Press secretary to Chavan, Satish Lalit confirmed the resignation.
Due to the withdrawal of support by the NCP and loss of the mandate of the people, the BJP started seeking the resignation of the Chief Minister. It also sought to impose a presidential rule in the State.
Eknath Khadse, senior BJP leader and Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition, met the Governor on Friday morning, seeking presidential rule be imposed on the State.
Sources at the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s House) said that Vidyasagar Rao had sought expert legal and constitutional opinion on the stability of the Chavan government, after NCP withdrew support.
At the time of going to press, the Raj Bhavan had not confirmed whether the State would be under Presidential Rule or that Prithviraj Chavan would be asked to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister of the State till election results were out.
On Thursday, when the NCP declared that it was withdrawing support, Former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the party was not being given proper treatment by the Congress and that was the main reason why it was withdrawing its support from the State Government.
Ajit Pawar, along other senior party leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal and Sunil Tatkare, met the Governor late Thursday night, informing him about the party’s decision.
The State goes to the polls on October 15, and by October 21 a new government is likely to be formed.
Chavan, who hails from Karad in Western Maharashtra, was known for his clean image and close ties with the Gandhi family. A trained engineer from the US, Chavan was sworn in as the Chief Minister on November 11, 2010.