Maharashtra's fledgling Eknath Shinde government, propped up with the support of the BJP after two weeks of political crisis, will face a floor test in the Assembly on Monday which it is likely to sail through.
- Deputy chief minister Fadnavis addresses Assembly, reports NDTV
- Eknath Shinde wins vote of confidence in Assembly, reports NDTV
- Uddhav camp moves SC against recognition of new Chief Whip, reports NDTV
- Minister and Balasaheb Thackeray's grandson votes against govt, violates party whip, reports NDTV
- Over 164 votes to new chief minister, reports NDTV
- Maharashtra trust vote begins, reports NDTV
- Team Thackeray MLA Santosh Bangar, who was with Uddhav Thackeray, has joined the Eknath Shinde camp minutes before the Maharashtra trust vote, reports ndtv.com
The four-day-old government's survival looks a formality as the numbers are stacked in its favour as was evident during Sunday's Speaker's election. The BJP's Rahul Narwekarwas was elected with 164 votes. The Opposition candidate, Rajan Salvi, secured only 107 votes.
Monday's floor test will take place in the backdrop of a plea by the Uddhav Thackeray faction, seeking disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp, that is pending before the Supreme Court. But even in case of a disqualification of 16 MLAs, the new government will have the numerical advantage.
The BJP now has 106 MLAs and Shinde claims the support of 50, including 39 Sena rebels. A disqualification of 16 MLAs will bring the majority mark to 137. But the government will still be in a comfortable position with a total strength of 140.
In a jolt to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, ahead of the Eknath Shinde-led government's floor test, Speaker Narvekar reinstated Shinde as Shiv Sena legislature party leader, removing Ajay Chaudhary.
Axe on Sunil Prabhu
Narvekar also recognised the appointment of Bharat Gogawale from the Shinde camp as the chief whip of the Sena, removing Sunil Prabhu, who belongs to the Thackeray faction.
In a statement late Sunday night, Narvekar said the Maharashtra Legislature secretariat had received a letter from the Shinde-led group on June 22 objecting to his removal by Thackeray as the group leader of the Shiv Sena legislature party.
After discussing the legalities of the matter, the Speaker has rejected the appointment of Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhary as the group leader of the legislative unit of the party, a letter by Narvekar said.
Setback to Uddhav camp
The development comes as a major setback to the Thackeray faction comprising 16 MLAs who will be bound by the whip to be issued by Gogawale for the trust vote. If these 16 MLAs refuse to follow the whip, they face disqualification.
Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena chief MP Arvind Sawant said his party will challenge this "unconstitutional" decision in court.
Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha P D T Acharya has given directives that the party leader (chief) has the right to appoint the group leader of the legislative unit of that party. How can you say that (Eknath Shinde) is the (legislative) party leader?" We will challenge this decision in court. This is highly unfortunate. The decision is taken on Sunday late night which speaks volumes about how it must have been taken, said Sawant.
'BJP marching towards autocracy'
He alleged that the decision amounts to trampling the Constitution and democratic norms. "The BJP is marching towards autocracy," Sawant added.
Ousted Shiv Sena group leader Ajay Chaudhary said the new Speaker did not even conduct any hearing over the objections of both sides.
"When my name was proposed for the Shiv Sena group leader's post, it was signed by Shiv Sena MLAs Dada Bhuse and Sanjay Rathod. They both later joined the Shinde camp. How can the Speaker ignore these facts? When my appointment was recognised by acting speaker Narhari Zirwal, how come the newly-appointed Speaker Rahul Narvekar can intervene?" he asked.
