MVA Govt Sails Through Floor Test in Maharashtra; BJP MLAs Skip Voting

Mumbai: The Supreme Court had asked state government of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to prove majority with proper head count and live telecast of the entire process. The newly sworn-in government led by Uddhav Thackeray followed the apex court order while proving majority in House, with 169 MLAs backing it, added by support from seven more MLAs in the past two days. 

As procedure for the Assembly started, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis raised two objections. First was about how the session began. He said, "The last session has sine die with national song. So new session has to start with national song which is not done." To this, pro tem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said that the current session was part of last session. The Governor's decision to call the session was accordance with parliamentary laws, he added. 

The other point raised by Fadnavis was about the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray government. He said that the ministers as well as Chief Minister did not follow the procedure. "They have said many words which are not part of constitutional proforma of oath. Therefore, the swearing ceremony is itself unconstitutional," said Fadnavis. 

To this, the pro tem Speaker said that the matter did not come under the jurisdiction of the Assembly. "The swearing in ceremony took place outside. It is the duty of the Governor to look into the matter. So, I am not an authority to talk about that," said the Speaker. 

After this, Uddhav Thackeray introduced his cabinet colleagues to House. But during the introduction, BJP members raised an uproar and left the House. 

Later, the Speaker started the procedure of floor test. As the Opposition was not in the House, their head count didn't take place. Four members -- one each from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and two from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen abstained. So, a total of 169 legislators voted for the government, four abstained, and there were zero MLAs against the vote confidence in the final tally. 

The major task now will be the election of Speaker. The MVA has given the post to Congress in its internal distribution of power. Congress's Nana Patole has filed the nomination whereas, BJP's Kisan Kathore is also said to be a candidate. 

The election of speaker is generally via secret ballot. The MVA camp is taking extra care to sail through this election. There is buzz that there are many MLAs in all three parties who may go against their candidate in secret ballot.

"Why is this government not going for secret ballot? What is the fear if it claims to have majority?" asked BJP state chief Chandrakant Patil during a media interaction. This is creating some tension among the MVA camp, said sources.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), however, has accused the BJP of “running away from the House.”

"They wanted some excuse to run away, that's why all this (ruckus). Devendra ji (BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis) should take lessons from (senior BJP leader Eknath) Khadse on how an opposition leader should work," NVP leader Nawab Malik said.

Earlier, claiming that the business transacted in the Assembly ahead of the floor test was in violation of Constitutional norms, the BJP staged a walkout, adding it will raise the issue before Governor B S Koshyari.

(With inputs from PTI)