Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir on Wednesday told a delegation of Shiv Sena-BJP leaders that he is "very anxious to have an elected government installed as early as possible" and have asked the Congress-NCP combine to respect people's mandate.
"The Governor told the delegation that he had told caretaker Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and R R Patil yesterday that since the electorate of Maharashtra had given them a fresh mandate, it was their responsibility to respect the mandate and form a government without any further delay," a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said.
The delegation led by leader of the BJP in Legislative Assembly Eknath Khadse and Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai today met the Governor at Raj Bhavan.
The delegation demanded that the caretaker government should not be allowed to function for an indefinite period as issues like malnutrition in tribal areas, declaration of fair price to the agricultural produce, deterioration of law and order need urgent attention from the government.
The opposition BJP-Shiv Sena combine sought imposition of President's rule in the state in case a government is not sworn in within the next 24 hours.
"We told the Governor that even 13 days after the assembly poll results, there is no sign of a government being sworn in. The ruling alliance partners are haggling over plum portfolios, thereby delaying government formation," Sena group leader in Assembly Subhash Desai told reporters at Raj Bhawan.
"We told the Governor that if no ministry is sworn in the next 24 hours, he should recommend to the Centre imposing President's rule in the state," Desai said.
BJP group leader in the Assembly Eknath Khadse said that the tenure of the 11th Assembly expired on Tuesday and the Congress and the NCP are still squabbling over portfolios.
"The Congress-NCP leaders are delaying formation of the new government despite the October 22 results giving them the mandate to rule," he said.
In Mantralaya, the state secretariat, chief minister Ashok Chavan said, his party was waiting for NCP's reply to some minor issues, and he hoped the differences will be ironed out in a day or two.
Chavan told reporters that the Governor had not pulled up his party, but wanted to have a clear understanding about the problems in government formation, which he had conveyed to him. “Certain differences will be sorted out by tomorrow morning”, Chavan said. PTI
