Opposition slams Bhagat Singh Koshyari over President’s rule

The Asian Age.

Metros, Mumbai

The NCP was supposed to meet the governor before 8.30pm Tuesday and stake claim on forming the government.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala

Mumbai: Leaders of Opposition parties have slammed Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for recommending President’s rule even before his own deadline to hear the NCP’s claim for forming the government ended.

The NCP was supposed to meet the governor before 8.30pm Tuesday and stake claim on forming the government. However, by Tuesday evening itself, the state was declared to be under President’s rule.

In a series of tweets, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala lashed out at the governor, alleging that his recommendation of President’s rule was unconstitutional.

“Governor Koshiyari has committed a grave travesty of democracy and made a mockery of the Constitutional process in recommending President’s rule in Maharashtra,” he tweeted.

“In case the governor called individual parties, why did he not call the Indian National Congress (INC)? And above all, why the completely arbitrary allotment of time? Forty-eight hours to BJP, 24 hours to Sena, and not even 24 hours to NCP, before President’s rule. This is unashamedly dishonest and politically motivated,” Mr Surjewala further tweeted.

Shiv Sena deputy leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, too, took to Twitter and lashed out at the governor for not allowing NCP to prove its majority.

Speaking to the media, Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the state governor of favouring the BJP. Mr Sibal alleged that the governor was acting at the behest of the Centre to impose President’s rule in the state, which went to polls on October 21.

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