2019 Maharashtra political crisis

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2019 Maharashtra political crisis

Part of Politics of Maharashtra
Devendra Fadnavis (left), Uddhav Thackeray (right)
Date	24 October 2019 – 27 November 2019
Duration	5 days
Location	Maharashtra, India
Also known as	2019 Maharashtra government formation
Type	Parliamentary crisis and government formation
Cause	Split in Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance
Participants	Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shiv Sena (SHS) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Indian National Congress (INC) Other political parties and Independents
Outcome	Formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi Government
Followed by	2022 Maharashtra political crisis

A political crisis in the Indian state of Maharashtra occurred on 21 October 2019 after the declaration of results of the 2019 legislative assembly election over the formation of a new state government. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party Shiv Sena alliance crossed the majority of 145 seats needed in the assembly by winning a total of 161 seats in the alliance. Individually BJP won 105 and SHS won 56 seats. The Opposition INC-NCP Alliance with 106 seats did not reach the majority mark. Individually INC won 44 and NCP won 54 seats.

After the declaration of election results, Shiv Sena declined to support the BJP to form the government, demanding an equal share in power which was promised by BJP. Shiv Sena also demanded the post of Chief Minister for 2.5 years according to 50-50 promise.^[1][2] But BJP declined such promise and eventually ended breaking ties with one of their oldest allies Shiv Sena.

With no political party able to prove their majority of 145 seats in the legislative assembly, president's rule was imposed in the state following a recommendation by the then Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari. On 8 November 2019, the Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari, a BJP appointee, invited the BJP to form a government as the single largest party. The President's rule was later revoked and the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, formed a government with the help of a small faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar. However, the BJP was unable to attain the required number to prove majority. After three days, Fadnavis and Pawar resigned. The invitation passed to the second largest party, Shiv Sena, to form government. On 11 November, the Governor invited the NCP to form government.^[3] The next day, after the NCP also failed to gain majority support, the governor recommended president's rule to the Council of Ministers of India and the President. This was accepted, and president's rule was imposed.^[2]

The political crisis concluded when discussions between Shiv Sena, NCP and INC lead to the formation of a new alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi. A new government was formed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a new alliance of Shiv Sena, the Indian National Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party, under Uddhav Thackeray. A consensus over government formation was finally achieved with Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray appointed Chief Minister after protracted negotiations.^[4]