Newspaper Headlines: Maharashtra Governor Invites NCP To Form Government, Other Big Stories

The Times Of India: As Maharashtra governor refuses to give more time to Shiv Sena, NCP asked him to indicate within 24 hours whether his party was "willing and able to form government". Centre tells Supreme Court the decision to scrap "special status" of J&K was Constitution-compliant and taken in the interest of India's security, are the top stories. The Times Of India

Hindustan Times: Maharashtra invites NC to form government and gave it 24 hours to cobble together a majority after the Shiv Sena failed to secure enough numbers. India's factory output shrank for the second straight month in September at 4.3%. Hindustan Times

The Indian Express: Maharashtra governor invites the NCP to show its willingness to form the government. JNU students protest against fee hike, HRD ministry says will find a way out. The Indian Express

The Telegraph Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked NCP chief Sharad Pawar to advise the Shiv Sena to seek more time from the Maharashtra governor. Factory output contracted by 4.3 per cent in September, the weakest showing in seven years. The Telegraph

The Asian Age Maharashtra governor invites Sharad Pawar-led NCP to explore government formation after the Shiv Sena failed to muster the requisite numbers within the 24 hours allotted to it as the Congress remained undecided on extending support to it. Centre looking at the possibility of "deep selection" for the new Chief of Defence Staff post, with even field commanders eligible for the top job, that may not be restricted to just the service chiefs. The Asian Age