The imposition of Presidential Rule in Maharashtra has been an unprecedented event in the recent political history of the State. However, given the political situation, it is seen as a logical development by the parties.
In the past, the Presidential Rule was only imposed once in 1980 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the collapse of the Janata Party Government at the Centre.
Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Eknath Khadse said that the Centre had followed all the Constitutional procedures while imposing the rule. Khadse said that BJP was the first to demand Presidential Rule in the State after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) withdrew support from Prithviraj Chavan Government on Friday.
Chavan was left with three alternatives: to call for a session of Maharashtra Assembly and prove majority or to establish the majority by taking the MLAs to the Governor or to resign from the Government. Since Chavan was not in a position to prove the majority in the State Assembly, he resigned on moral grounds.
Spokesperson of NCP, Mahesh Tapase, said that the party failed to arrive at a consensus with the Congress for seat sharing arrangement. Therefore, the NCP had to quit the Chavan Government. “We tried our best to convince the Congress but failed. We had to come out of the Government. With this decision we are going to face the people,” he said.
Political analyst Nagesh Kesari said that the imposition of Presidential Rule has been a unique development. The Presidential Rule has never been imposed especially when a State is due to face elections in two weeks.