CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN MAHARASHTRA

Even as the Election Commission has already postponed Rajya Sabha polls, bye-elections and civic body elections in the wake of the pandemic. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday requested the Election Commission of India to declare elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council “at the earliest”.Why is it so urgent ? What is the constitutional crisis? If Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray does not find a constitutional way out, he might have to resign from his post. Uddhav took oath as chief minister on November 28 last year. He was -- and is -- not a member of either of the two houses of Maharashtra legislature. Article 164 of the Constitution allows a non-legislator to occupy a post in the council of ministers, including the office of the chief minister for six months. Uddhav Thackeray's deadline ends on May 28. In pre-coronavirus era, Uddhav Thackeray was supposed to contest and win election to the Maharashtra legi...