Maharashtra: Shiv Sena to Challenge Prez Rule in SC Today

The political battle in Maharashtra is set to move tothe Supreme Court as Shiv Sena is likely to challenge the imposition ofPresident's Rule in the state.

The Maharashtra Governor has shut the doors of thestate assembly by putting it in a state of suspended animation as the Shiv Senaand the NCP failed to utilize the 24-hour each window provided to each tosubmit a list of majority MLAs to form a government.

Events unfolded rapidly on Tuesday as Shiv Senainitially filed a plea before the top court challenging Maharashtra GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari's decision to deny their demand for 72 hours to submitletters of support and form the government.

The Governor recommended President's Rule as no party submitted a conclusive letter of support, basing his decision on two failed attempts for government formation under the circumstances prevailing at the time when he sent a report to the center in the afternoon.

However, the Governor's recommendation of President'sRule in the state has been approved by PM Narendra Modi by calling anunscheduled Cabinet meeting and by evening President Ram Nath Kovind out hisstamp to put Maharashtra under President's Rule.

The lawyers for the Shiv Sena reached the SC by 3 pm on Tuesday with a plea to quash the decision of the Governor by which he had denied the request of Shiv Sena to grant three days' time to get the letters of support.