Maharashtra: NCP, Shiv Sena, Congress challenge government formation by BJP; SC to hear plea today

Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress' joint plea against government formation by the BJP in Maharashtra will be heard by the Supreme Court on Sunday at around 11.30 am, news agency ANI reported.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena filed a writ petition on Saturday in the Supreme Court against Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar oath-taking as Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy CM respectively.

Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Maharashtra's Chief Minister for the second consecutive term after BJP pulled off a coup of sorts by forming the government in Maharashtra with the support of NCP's Ajit Pawar.

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The oath was administered by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhawan, news agency ANI reported.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister of the state.

The move came at a time when deliberations among Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena on the government formation had seemingly reached the final stage on Friday.

Meanwhile, the NCP has passed a unanimous resolution to not endorse Ajit Pawar's decision. Pawar has been removed as NCP legislative party leader and until a new leader is elected, senior leader Jayant Patil is vested with the responsibilities of the post.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday, after concluding discussions with the Congress and the Shiv Sena, told reporters that the parties have a consensus on Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's name for the post of Maharashtra CM.

Shiv Sena senior leader Sanjay Raut had said on Friday that Thackeray had given his consent to lead Maharashtra as the chief minister.

(With inputs from ANI)