Cong alleges Constitutional breach in BJP forming Govt in Mah, asks when Modi govt started process of revoking Prez rule

Addressing reporters hours after Devendra Fadnavis's swearing in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra port of NCP leader Ajit Pawar, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala alleged that Ajit Pawar was ‘blackmailed’ into supporting the BJP Government in the state.

‘’This day shall go down as a black chapter in the history of India. An illegitimate government was constituted by the Governor acting as a 'hitman' of the Constitution at the instance of Home Minister Amit Shah who considers the Constituton as his captive instrument. The BJP blinded by the lust of power blackmailed Ajit Pawar into supporting the BJP Government in the state,’’ Mr Surjewala said.

The party spokesperson said the BJP robbed the state of Maharashtra of its mandate.

''The Governor of Maharashtra instead of protecting his constitutional duties, acted as a hitman for the Home Minister Amit Shah to sell the mandate given by people of India by auctioning the trust of the legislatures, it has become a normal for the BJP,'' Mr Surjewala alleged.

The Congress leader further alleged that ''in the history of Independent India, this be the only occasion when in the dead of the night, Constitution was subverted, democracy was throttled and rule of law was mowed down by Governor to surreptitiously induct an illegitimate government of the BJP.''

''BJP and Ajit Pawar have together acted like Duryodhana and Shakuni to rip off and cheat a democratic mandate by the people of Maharashtra. They have betrayed the people of Maharashtra,'' he stated.

Mr Surjewala alleged that the BJP threatened the NCP leaders with jail to force them to support a Government led by Mr Fadnavis.

''Prior to the elections, Mr Fadnavis and the BJP promised to send Ajit Pawar in Arthur Road jail in the Rs 72,000 crore irrigation scam, but post the elections, they have sent him to Mantralaya as Deputy Chief Minister,’’ Mr Surjewala said. 

Posing several questions to  Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr Surjewala asked them as to when the BJP decided that President's Rule will be revoked and a government will be formed.

‘’How many BJP-NCP MLAs support Devendra Fadnavis? How did Governor verify support letter at night in one hour,’’ he asked.

He also wanted to know what time was President's rule removed?

‘’What time did the Union cabinet meet, who were there, what time did they tell Governor to remove President's rule? What time did the Union cabinet send the letter to the Governor to remove President's rule? When was it accepted? What time the Governor called Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, what time did they take oath? Apart from one private news channel, not even DD or other media firms, no citizens, no Maharashtra Chief Justice, why was no one called?,’’ Mr Surjewala asked.

He said the fact that the oath-taking ceremony was held in a hush hush manner in the early morning hours displayed the malafide intentions of the BJP.

‘’Why was no media invited to the oath-taking ceremony,’’he asked.

In an early morning development, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari  administered the oath to Mr Fadnavis as the chief minister of Maharashtra to head a government supported by NCP rebel Ajit Pawar.