Mumbai: Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced his resignation as Maharashtra's chief minister, hours after the Supreme Court ordered a floor test in the state assembly.
Earlier in the day, his deputy, NCP's Ajit Pawar resigned from the post, just three days after he was sworn in.
"We realised that we don't have the required numbers to form the government and we don't want to indulge in horse-trading," Fadnavis told reporters after announcing his decision.
In a sudden turn of event, both Fadnavis and Pawar were administered the oath on Saturday morning, nixing Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP's bid to form government in the state.
Biggest setback for Modi, Shah: Antony
Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday termed the developments in Maharashtra and the verdict of the Supreme Court as the biggest setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed conducting the Maharashtra Assembly floor test on Wednesday.
"No doubt, this is the biggest setback for Modi and Amit Shah. But I am sure that they will not sit idle. What's most important is today is the Constitution Day," said Antony while speaking to the media, here.
"This government has been using all agencies -- the CBI, IB and Enforcement, Directorate -- for things that should not be done," said Antony, who is also a Congress Working Committee member.
When asked if the NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress combine will be able to provide a stable government in Maharashtra, Antony said it would be one which would work 24X7.
Pawar goes first
Earlier, Ajit Pawar on Tuesday resigned from the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra ahead of the floor test scheduled to be held in the state assembly tomorrow, said sources.
Pawar was sworn-in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state on Saturday morning.
The decision invoked vociferous criticism from the opposition which later moved to Supreme Court.
Judgement day
Earlier in the day, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ramana passed the order for conducting floor test by Wednesday evening while giving a decision on a joint petition filed by Congress-Shiv Sena and NCP against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's decision of administering an oath to Fadnavis as Chief Minister and NCP's Ajit Pawar as his deputy during early hours of Saturday.
The Fadnavis government was formed at a time when deliberations among the three parties on government formation.
Meanwhile, NCP had replaced nephew of Sharad Pawar as legislature party leader with Jayant Patil.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said that the decision of his nephew Ajit Pawar to align with BJP was against the party line and any MLA who aligns with him is likely to face anti-defection law.
On Monday, NCP legislative party leader Jayant Patil along with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and others visited Raj Bhawan and gave a letter showing the strength of 162 MLAs to the officials at Raj Bhavan.
The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
