Governor accepts Chavan's resignation

"Chavan has been asked to continue till alternative arrangements are made," an official close to Raj Bhawan said in Mumbai.

Chavan resigned from the CM’s post on Friday in the wake of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) withdrew its support from the ruling Congress party thereby reducing it to minority.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP broke ties with its 15-year old coalition partner Congress, owing to the failure in the seat-sharing deal for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls due next month.

With the withdrawal of 62-legislator strong NCP, the Congress-led ruling coalition Democratic Front government was reduced to a minority in the 288-member house as it has only 82 legislators.

The development sparked a political crisis in the state just three weeks ahead of the elections, which is going to polls on October 15.

With Congress-NCP parting ways on one side and BJP-Shiv Sena alliance splitting at the same time, the upcoming elections is going to be four-sided affair with all parties going to the elections on their own.

Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) being the fifth major side contesting the polls.

Meanwhile, in the wake of Chavan’s resignation, a special meeting of the Union Cabinet, headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been convened on Saturday evening to discuss the political situation in Maharashtra.

Singh has been authorised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take emergency decisions during his ongoing US tour.

The cabinet is expected to discuss the Governor's suggestion for President's rule in Maharashtra, media reported.