Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan resigns

Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra, resigned on Friday evening.

The Democratic Front government was reduced to a minority on Thursday night after the NCP pulled out its support and announced to contest the assembly polls on its own.

Chavan called on governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Friday morning and apprised him of the political situation in the state. Their meeting lasted for about 45 minutes. The CM told the governor that he had to resign as his government had been reduced to minority.

Governor Rao is believed to have sought legal advice regarding president's rule in the state. Chavan's deputy and NCP leader Ajit Pawar announed the break-up on Thursday night. While the NCP has 62 MLAs, the Congress has 82 in the 288-member state assembly.

As soon as the NCP withdrew its support, the BJP raised the ante with party leader Eknath Khadse calling up the governor and asking him to dismiss the government and explore the way ahead.

Ajit Pawar on Thursday alleged that Chavan chose to remain aloof on most occasions and they rarely had a dialogue. Later in the night, addressing a press meet, Chavan accused Pawar of being too ambitious and always eyeing the chief minister's post. He alleged that the Congress-NCP alliance fell apart because of Pawar's ambition.

NCP insiders told dna that the party withdrew its support days before the polls so that government was reduced to a minority and Chavan was forced to resign. Some claimed their move has proved successful because now that Chavan has resigned he would not be able to influence the government machinery during elections. For, it would be governor Rao who would be at the helm of affairs in the state.