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The Maharashtra deputy chief minister said it was decided that Pawar will conduct a tour of the state and tell voters that though NCP and BJP fought elections against each other, they will come together to give a stable government. However, the deal fell through
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI)
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has claimed that President’s Rule was imposed in the state after the 2019 assembly elections due to a letter by NCP veteran Sharad Pawar, adding that the NCP had decided to join hands with the BJP but the deal fell through.
In an interview to a Marathi daily, Fadnavis said: “After the 2019 election, when BJP could not establish a government due to lack of numbers, the Governor gave a call to the Uddhav Thackeray-led united Shiv Sena to assume power. However, they also lacked numbers as they had an alliance with us. It was then that two NCP leaders came to meet me and told me that their party wants to establish the government with us. A meeting was held in which Home Minister Amit Shah, Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and I were present and it was decided that we will form the government.”
He added: “It was evident that the government should be formed before November 10, 2019, or President’s Rule would be imposed. However, in the meeting it was decided that we should let the Rule be imposed and then form the government. Meanwhile, it was decided that Sharad Pawar will conduct a tour of the state and make a statement to the voters that though NCP and BJP fought elections against each other, they will come together to give a stable government. This was decided by Sharad Pawar himself in the meeting.”
Revealing how President’s Rule was imposed, Fadnavis said after BJP and Shiv Sena were unable to form the government due to inadequate numbers, the Governor called the NCP. “But NCP suddenly decided that they will not form the government. Sharad Pawar’s letter, which he gave to the Governor, was typed in my office itself. When letter was sent to Pawar, he suggested a few changes in that. So, if Pawar is saying it was his game-plan of not getting President’s Rule imposed in the state, it is false. In fact, it was his letter due to which President’s Rule was imposed.”
