Stating that he was not interested "in playing the numbers' game," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said he was resigning from his post.
"I am also quitting as member of Legislative Council," Thackeray said in a webcast, while appealing the workers of his party not to take to the streets in protest.
As Leader of the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis is set to stake claim to the Chief Minister's post for the third time. Fadnavis, who met the party's top brass twice in a week in Delhi, said that the future course of action will be announced today.
The BJP, on the other hand, is likely to hold a series of meetings to deliberate on the formation of government in the state along with the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, which had been camping in first Surat, then Guwahati and had landed in Goa on Wednesday night.
The BJP will approach the Governor to stake claim to form the government, which the Shinde faction would back with their 39 Shiv Sena MLAs and other independents.
Let's take a look at the CMs who resigned before a floor test in recent years:
Kamal Nath, Madhya Pradesh
On March 20, 2020, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced his resignation ahead of the Supreme Court-mandated floor test in the state assembly.
The rebellion by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP a day later, triggered his downfall.
Nath resigned because Congress did not have the numbers required to prove the majority in the house.
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra
In November 2019, Devendra Fadnavis resigned barely 80 hours after taking oath as CM for the second time.
His resignation came after deputy Ajit Pawar's resignation.
Fadnavis handed over his resignation to the Governor after he announced his decision at a crowded news conference in Mumbai.
Ajit Pawar had supported the BJP as leader of the 54-member NCP legislature party and with his resignation the government lost majority.
BS Yeddiyurappa, Karnataka
On May 19, 2018, BJP's BS Yeddiyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka on May 17, 2018, resigned from his post on May 19, after the leader failed to get the required numbers to prove a majority ahead of the floor test in Karnataka assembly.
In the 2018 Karnataka elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party but with a post-poll alliance, the Congress and the JD(S) successfully staked their claim to form the government.
Nabam Tuki, Arunachal Pradesh
On July 16, 2016, Congress party replaced Chief Minister Nabam Tuki by choosing a new leader, Pema Khandu, who staked claim to power on the basis of support of 45 party MLAs and two independents.
In fast-changing developments, Khaliko Pul, rebel-turned chief minister, who was unseated by the Supreme Court, returned to the party fold with 30 dissident MLAs.
Hours ahead of a scheduled floor test in the Assembly, which Governor Tathagat Roy had directed Tuki to take, the Congress elected 37-year-old Khandu, the son of late chief minister Dorjee Khandu, as its new leader.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, Bihar
On February, 20, 2015, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi resigned ahead of a trust vote in the state assembly.
Manjhi was selected by Nitish Kumar to succeed him after he resigned in 2014.
The JD(U) Legislature party, while agreeing to decision had asked Manjhi to be the chief minister till the next Assembly poll after which Nitish Kumar would take over from him.
However, a power tussle began between Manjhi and Nitish Kumar, after which Manjhi rebelled against Kumar and was expelled from the party and forced prove his majority.
