LIVE News Updates: We have the numbers, will form the govt: NCP’s Nawab Malik after MLAs’ meet

The Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena approached the Supreme Court on Saturday evening and are pressing for a floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Sunday itself, Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamat, who filed the petition on behalf of the three parties, said in New Delhi.

After the meeting of NCP MLAs in Mumbai presided over by Sharad Pawar, party spokesperson Nawab Malik said the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena combine has the required numbers to form the government.

“The government that has been sworn-in will fall in the floor test,” he said.

Malik said that the MLAs unanimously passed a resolution saying that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) does not agree with the steps taken by Ajit Pawar. Ajit is the nephew of party chief Sharad Pawar.

“ A resolution was passed unanimously that party does not endorse Ajit Pawar's decision. He has been removed as NCP legislative party leader. Till the election of a new leader, Jayant Patil will discharge the responsibilities of the post,” Malik said.

The Supreme Court has admitted Shiv Sena’s plea against Maharashtra swearing-in of BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar

Jayant Patil, a close aide of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, has been elected as the leader of NCP legislative party in Maharashtra Assembly in the meeting of party MLAs chaired by Sharad Pawar in Mumbai.

The development effectively means that Ajit Pawar has been ousted from the party.

Jayant Patil is also the NCP Maharashtra state unit chief.

The meeting of NCP MLAs, chaired by party supremo Sharad Pawar has begun at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar taking oath as CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra.

As many as 49 NCP MLAs, including a majority of those who were reported to have gone with Ajit Pawar to support the BJP, turned up at the meeting called by party supremo Sharad Pawar at Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

This means that only five MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, have not come to attend the meeting. The development has laid the speculations of split in the NCP to rest for now.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde arrives at YV Chavan Centre in Mumbai for NCP meeting.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik on Saturday claimed that during the oath-taking ceremony of Ajit Pawar at the Raj Bhawan here 10 rebel MLAs were present, out of which four have returned to the party fold.

Speaking to reporters Malik said, "Meeting of the NCP MLAs has been called at 4 p.m. to discuss the future course of action."

Talking about the 10 MLAs present during the oath-taking ceremony of Ajit Pawar, Malik said, "The MLAs were called in the morning for a meeting and then taken to the Raj Bhawan. Four out of the 10 MLAs, who went there have returned. We had a word with few more MLAs and they might also return," he said.

Around 6-7 armed robbers barged into Muthoot Finance branch in Hajipur, Bihar, on Saturday afternoon. They looted around 55 kg gold at the gunpoint, police said.

A special court in Delhi on Saturday dismissed a complaint seeking directions to Delhi Police to register an FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on charges of sedition, for allegedly making derogatory comments against Prime Minister Modi.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed that NCP's Ajit Pawar was "blackmailed" into joining hands with the BJP to form government in Maharashtra.

He said Ajit Pawar might return to the NCP fold.

BJP's Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday took oath as Maharashtra chief minister, while Ajit Pawar as his deputy.

"NCP leader Dhananjay Munde has been contacted. Ajit Pawar may also return (to NCP fold). We have information how Ajit Pawar has been blackmailed and will expose this soon," Raut told reporters.

Munde, who is said to have been in touch with Fadnavis since the last few days, had gone incommunicado. He is said be supporting Ajit Pawar.

Munde was elected from Parli where he defeated his cousin and BJP leader Pankaja Munde.

"The new government was formed at 7 in the morning. In the cover of darkness only sins are committed," Raut said.

Today was a black spot in the history of Maharashtra. Everything was done in a hushed manner and early morning. Something is wrong somewhere. Nothing can be more shameful than this.

"The MLAs have the same story to share. All parties keep list of all the elected MLAs, their signature. Two such letters were taken by Ajit Pawar from office. It is likely that that letter was submitted by Ajit Pawar. If that has happened, the signatures of 54 MLA s was not for government formation. I am not sure if the Governor was deceived like that. I am confident that on the day the Governor will ask them to show majority on the floor of the house, they will not be able to do it," Sharad Pawar said.

Parties had their MLAs list signed by all MLAs, a similar list of NCP was with Ajit Pawar, as he is CLP of NCP. I assume that he has submitted the same list. I am not sure about this but I suspect that this may be the case. We will discuss with Governor, said Sharad Pawar

I'm sure Governor has given them time to prove majority but they won't be able prove it. After that our three parties will form the government as we had decided earlier, said Sharad Pawar

NCP MLA Rajendra Shingane said, Ajit Pawar had called me to discuss something and from there I was taken with other MLAs to Raj Bhavan. Before we could understand oath ceremony was complete. I rushed to Pawar Sahab and told him I am with Sharad Pawar and NCP.

All the MLAs who are going must know that there is an anti defection law and the possibility of them losing their assembly membership is high. says Sharad Pawar

Ajit Pawar's decision is against the party line and is indiscipline . No NCP leader or worker is in favour of an NCP-BJP government

Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP leaders came together to form Government. We had the numbers. We had our official numbers- 44, 56 and 54 MLAs with us who had supported the govt. Several independent were also with us and we had numbers around 170,”said Sharad Pawar

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray arrived at YB Chavan centre for a joint press briefing with the NCP.

Slogans raised in support of Sharad Pawar and against Ajit Pawar by a group of NCP workers outside YB Chavan Centre where Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena will address the media shortly.

“This is making a mockery of the constitution, BJP did the same in Goa,Meghalaya and other states. No MLA of the NCP will support this, Ajit Pawar has gone with them alone,” said Digvijaya Singha

The Congress hit out at Devendra Fadnavis being sworn-in as the Maharashtra chief minister on Saturday, saying it was a "betrayal of people's mandate" and the "illegitimate" government formation will self-destruct.

The month-long political impasse in Maharashtra ended dramatically on Saturday with the BJP's Fadnavis returning as the chief minister, backed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

NCP's Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister.  "This is called betrayal of people's mandate and giving contract for killing democracy," Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet.

He also tagged media reports on allegations of Ajit Pawar's involvement in scams.

"Lust for power washes away principles and corruption," Surjewala said on Twitter, tagging a September tweet of Fadnavis in which he had said the BJP will never ally with the NCP as it had "exposed" the latter's corruption.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday questioned the morality of revoking the President's rule and swearing-in of the chief minister and deputy chief minister in Maharashtra.

Gehlot said both the chief minister and deputy chief minister were "guilt conscious" and raised doubt whether they would be able to deliver good governance.

Referring to the political development in Maharashtra, Gehlot asked what morality was there in the sudden revocation of President's rule and such swearing-in.

"Which direction are they taking democracy to?" Gehlot asked on Twitter, adding that people would teach a lesson to the BJP on an appropriate time.

Gehlot said he was doubtful whether Devendra Fadnavis would be successful as a chief minister and deliver good governance, adding that the people of Maharashtra would suffer.

An urgent meeting has been called by Congress at party office in Mumbai. Senior party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal to be present

Senior NCP leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, Rohit Pawar were at Sharad Pawar's Mumbai residence, Silver Oak. The meeting concluded quickly and the leaders have remained tight-lipped about the discussion.

“We will prove our majority with support of over 170 MLAs. Ajit Pawar has given a letter to Governor about support of his MLAs and as he is legislative party leader of NCP, which means all NCP MLAs have supported us,” said Girish Mahajan, BJP

The Congress on Saturday said Devendra Fadnavis being sworn-in as the Maharashtra chief minister was a "betrayal of people's mandate".

The month-long political impasse ended dramatically in Maharashtra on Saturday with the BJP's Fadnavis returning as the chief minister, backed by the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

NCP's Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena said, Sharad Pawar saheb has nothing to do with this, Ajit Pawar has backstabbed the people of Maharashtra

The BJP-NCP government took charge in Maharashtra on Saturday after the President's rule, imposed in the state a fortnight ago, was revoked at 5.47 am.

According to a Home Ministry notification, President Ram Nath Kovind issued the proclamation for revocation of the central rule this morning.

The gazette notification to this effect was issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla at 5.47 am.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Ajit Pawar took oath as the chief minister and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra after the President's rule was revoked.

Ajit Pawar’s decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), says NCP Chief Sharad Pawar