Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday called for the implementation of President’s Rule in Maharashtra following the end of the Assembly’s term on November 26.

Speaking to the media, Raut criticised the Mahayuti alliance’s inability to form a government despite securing a huge victory in the Assembly elections. He said, “They (Mahayuti) have got a massive majority, yet they have neither decided on the Chief Minister nor formed a government. When we were hopeful to form the government, we were told that if we failed to do so by November 26, President’s Rule would be imposed.”

Mahayuti Stalemate

The Mahayuti alliance, which won over 230 seats in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly, has yet to declare the next chief minister of the state. According to sources, while the alliance has decided on the chief minister, discussions over portfolio allocation among the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP are delaying the announcement.

Once an agreement is reached, the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be officially announced, sources confirmed.

Raut Alleges EVM Manipulation, Demands Ballot Paper Voting

Raut also raised concerns over alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation, claiming that it played a role in the defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the recent elections. He remarked, “We have been raising the EVM issue for the last 10 years. When Congress was in power, the BJP questioned EVMs. Listen to Modi’s old speeches—he called EVMs a fraud. If EVMs are removed, BJP won’t win even 25 seats in the entire country.”

He further urged the Election Commission to revert to ballot paper voting, stating, “Conduct the elections on ballot papers, and whatever the results, we will accept them.”

Is Government Formation Mandatory?

According to legal experts and reports, including one by News18, there is no constitutional requirement for a government to be formed before the end of the Assembly’s term. President’s Rule does not automatically come into effect if a government is not in place by the deadline.

Historical precedents show instances where governments were formed or Chief Ministers were sworn in after the term of the Assembly.

NCP-SP leader Clyde Crasto on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using Eknath Shinde to win the elections.

Crasto said, “The whole issue of who is going to be the next Maharashtra CM is turning out to be a big question. During the elections, the BJP always said that they were contesting the elections with Eknath Shinde as the face of Mahayuti. Now when the time has come and he has also performed, and it is the time to make him the CM again, the party is talking about the Bihar model not being there and other issues. This clearly means they are using Eknath Shinde.”

Further, he said that injustice was being done to Shinde.

“This is injustice to Shinde… Are they trying to say that he is not good enough to be the CM or are they trying to say that they did what they wanted to do, used him and now they want their man as the CM? Whatever it is they have got the mandate of the people and they need to respect it. They need to announce the Chief Minister who will lead Maharashtra prosperity,” he added.

Earlier, on November 26, Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai said that all the three leaders –Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar–would sit together and hold discussions if the deadlock continues over the choice of name of next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

The election results for Maharashtra were announced on November 23 but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is yet to decide on the Chief Minister.

“Who would lead our Mahayuti and who would be the CM face of Mahayuti? Our three leaders, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, would sit together and discuss this. Whatever they decide will be accepted by all the MLAs of Mahayuti and the same decision will be implemented…,” Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai.

“Every party feels that a leader of their own party should get the CM post. If you ask me, as a Shiv Sainik, I would say that our main leader, Eknath Shinde,should get the CM post. The same goes for BJP leaders who want Devendra Fadnavis to get the post…But all three leaders will sit together and discuss. A solution would come out after discussions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said Devendra Fadnavis should lead the Mahayuti government as “people of Maharashtra want him” to be the next Chief Minister, and Eknath Shinde can be the Deputy CM or join the Modi government.

Mumbai: A fire broke out in a seven-storey residential building in Andheri area of Mumbai on Wednesday morning, officials said.

There was no report of any casualty, they said.

The blaze erupted at 8.42 am in a flat on the sixth floor of the Chinchan building in Andheri (West), the officials said.

Four fire-fighting vehicles were rushed to the spot. The blaze was doused by around 9 am, a fire official said. “There is no report of injury to anyone,” a civic official said.

Cooling operations were underway at the spot, the fire official said. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.