Maharashtra placed under president’s rule

Indian State of Maharashtra was placed under president's rule yesterday amid a stalemate over government formation after the assembly polls last month.

The Union Cabinet had earlier in the day recommended president's rule in the state after governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari submitted a report in this regard, officials said.

President Ram Nath Kovind has signed a proclamation imposing president's rule in Maharashtra, they said.

In his report, the governor said a situation has arisen that a stable government is not possible even after 15 days of election results being declared, according to officials.

All possible efforts have been made but he saw no probability of a stable government in the state, the governor said.

After the BJP declined to form the government and the Shiv Sena failed to get letters of support from the NCP and the Congress, Koshyari had on Monday night asked the NCP to form government in the state by 8:30pm yesterday.

However, the Governor noted that the NCP yesterday morning conveyed to him that the party needed three more days to gather requisite support. The governor felt that as already 15 days had passed, he was not in a position to give more time, the officials said.