Sanjay Raut's allegation of President Rule in Maharashtra baseless, devoid of understanding of Constitution: EC sources

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 21 (ANI): Allegations by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut regarding the possibility of President's Rule in Maharashtra after assembly polls are completely baseless and lack understanding of constitutional provisions, sources in Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office said on Monday.

The sources told ANI that the Election Commissions role is to conduct the Elections and submit the list of newly elected MLAs to the Governor within six months of completion of the term of Assembly, as per Section 15 of RP Act 1951 read with Article 172(1) of the Constitution.

The Commission will conclude this process before November 26, 2024 and immediately after the counting is concluded on November 23.

After the list of newly-elected MLAs is submitted, the Governor can invite and call for the formation of the Government, within his mandated constitutional duties as per Article 164 of the Constitution, which is not bound by the term of expiry of Assembly i.e. November 26. The relevance of November 26, 2024 is only for completion of the election process by EC, the sources said.

Raut on Sunday alleged that the BJP was afraid of defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance was confident of forming the government in the state.
"This is the reason the Election Commission has kept only a few days for government formation after poll results," he alleged.

Maharashtra will go to the polls on November 20 and the result will be declared on November 23. (ANI)