Maharashtra coup: BJP celebrates, Congress cries foul

Bengaluru: Welcoming the formation of the BJP-NCP government in Maharashtra, Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Saturday said it was time other parties like the JD(S) and Congress understood that the people were with the saffron party and wanted it to rule all states.

Speaking to reporters in Athani, he said some political parties had realised that except the BJP, no other political party had a  future in the country anymore. “This is why the NCP has joined hands with the BJP in Maharashtra,” he  contended, asserting that Mr Devendra Fadnavis would be Chief Minister for five years and  provide a stable government.

Calling the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra “power hungry” he said the BJP had given it a fitting reply by forming the government without its support.

Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers, D.V. Sadananda Gowda too advised JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda and former Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accept the “hard reality”  that the people were with the BJP. “The political developments in Maharashtra reflect the people’s sentiments and their support for the BJP as they  gave the party 106 seats.  It has now formed the government in Maharashtra with the NCP for the sake of the country and development of the state. The  Shiv Sena’s power hungry attitude has boomeranged on it. I will bet you that that in six months, it will be wiped out from Maharashtra,” he maintained.

Defending the midnight coup of sorts  by the BJP in the neighbouring state, Mr Gowda added, “We are doing 24x7 politics. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party national president, Amit Shah have maintained top secrecy in forming the government.”

Karnataka Congress vows to fight Maharashtra coup ‘politically, legally’

While BJP leaders in the state rejoiced at the sudden turn of events in Maharashtra, where their party has formed the government with the National Congress Party( NCP), Congress leaders in a series of tweets called “the midnight coup”  “a scandal” and warned that their party would  fight it both politically and legally.

The Karnataka Congress charged the BJP with trying to mislead people by  claiming the support of all 54 NCP MLAs. "This is a breach of  Constitutional principles and a glaring misuse of power and democratic institutions. Where is the morality in the sudden revocation of President's rule and swearing -in by the Maharashtra Governor? Why did Rajbhavan maintain secrecy about the swearing-in ceremony?  This is blatant misuse of the Governor office. Where is democracy heading to? Treachery and betrayal of mandates is the new ideology of @BJP4India," it tweeted.

Hitting out at its own long standing ally, the NCP, the Congress added in another tweet, “NCP throws out respect, honour, ideology, votes all for power. What does this mean? Clean chit to Sharad Pawar. Withdrawal all cases against Ajit,  Praful Patel. Natural Corrupt Party (NCP) becomes ally."

Former Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah in a hard-hitting tweet said: "There is no need for a majority these days.  @BJP4India needs only ED, EC & IT in its hands. They know the art of manipulating democratic values, the Constitutional mandate and ideological commitments for the sake of power.”

He added that the political developments in Maharashtra did not  surprise him. "The same #OperationKamala has been extended to Maharashtra. It will not be a surprise if @BSYBJP provides shelter to party hoppers as an expression of gratitude towards @Dev_Fadnavis. #MaharashtraPolitics," he quipped.

KPCC president, Dinesh Gundu Rao also took to twitter to say: "What is sad to see is the @rashtrapatibhvn acting like a rubber stamp. The Maharashtra Governor is like a BJP functionary. Under the Modi government all Constitutional bodies/functionaries and autonomous institutions have lost their independence. Faith has been lost."

Coming down hard on the Maharashtra development, KPCC working president, Eshwar Khandre tweeted, "Today, the @BJP4India has formed an unethical, unconditional and illegal government in #Maharashtra after revoking  President’s rule in the early  hours before dawn.  This is nothing but throttling of democracy and horse-trading of MLAs. The people will give a befitting reply at the right time.”