Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over his resignation to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at a quick meeting on Friday evening, 15 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena combine secured a clear majority in last month’s state elections.
Fadnavis, the BJP’s presumptive chief minister for the second term, however, could not stake claim after bitter tussle with its alliance partner led by Uddhav Thackeray demanded a written assurance that a Sena nominee would be given the chance to be chief minister after 30 months.
BJP leaders had been dismissive of the Sena’s demand and saw the demand as a negotiating tactic to get a larger chunk of cabinet berth. But it was after Fadnavis rejected, off camera, that there had no pact between the two allies to share the chief minister’s post that Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena dug in his heels.
He appeared in front of television cameras to announce his resignation after handing over the formal letter to the governor. Fadnavis started with a thank you note to his party and its leaders for the opportunity to serve the people of Maharashtra.
“I met the governor and submitted my resignation. It has been accepted. For the last five years, I had an opportunity to serve the people of Maharashtra and I am thankful for that,” said Fadnavis, speaking to media persons at Sahyadri guest house after the resignation.
Source: HindustanTimes