MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party made an unexpectedcomeback to power on Saturday in wealthy Maharashtra state, home to thecountry’s financial capital, after prolonged backroom negotiations sawpresidential rule lifted after days of uncertainty.
President Ram Nath Kovind imposed direct rule on India’s richest state lastweek after fiercely fought elections last month led to weeks of hagglingbetween parties over forming a government.
The state was previously ruled by Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya JanataParty and its right-wing regional ally Shiv Sena.
But they failed to agree another power-sharing deal despite results showingthe coalition had won a comfortable majority for a second consecutive term.
Shiv Sena quit the partnership, hoping to convince their ideologicalrivals, the centre-left Indian National Congress, and the NationalistCongress Party (NCP)to form a government instead.
In the end though the BJP pulled off a major upset by joining hands with atop NCP leader to form a coalition, announcing the deal on Saturday.
“This bolsters the BJP and Modi’s image in the state and the country,”political commentator Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay told AFP.
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“While there were some questions being raised about their loss of dominancefollowing election results, this verdict will cement Modi and BJP’s controlin the state”, he added.
The coalition still needs to prove its majority in the state legislature ina week’s time in order to stay in power.
India has been battling an economic slowdown, and the imposition ofpresidential rule was a setback for Modi and for Mumbai, which is home tobusiness tycoons, the stockmarket and the glitzy Bollywood film industry.
Under India’s constitution, New Delhi can take direct control of a state inthe absence of a local government and after obtaining consent from thepresident. -APP/AFP
