On the evening of Friday, 22 November, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress finalised their alliance in Maharashtra. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar announced that there is consensus for Uddhav Thackeray becoming the next chief minister of Maharashtra.
This proved wrong BJP’s calculation that the three parties won’t be able to form a government. The saffron party then initiated its Plan B, which was the result of its secret negotiations with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
The same evening as the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s announcement, the Centre got into action and decided to recommend the revocation of President’s Rule in Maharashtra. The decision was purportedly taken without a Cabinet meeting.
At 5:47 am on 23 November, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari revoked President’s Rule.
At 8 AM, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister. Even Prasar Bharti wasn’t informed as that could have potentially led to the details leaking.
Thus began the 80-hour political thriller that engulfed Maharashtra. It was a battle of wits between the BJP, Ajit Pawar and the Union Government on the one hand and the Sena, NCP and Congress on the other.