Uddhav Thackeray-Led Govt Wins Floor Test With 169 MLAs In Maha Assembly Amid BJP Boycott

The assembly also saw BJP MLAs stage walkout in protest after former CM Devendra Fadnavis pointed out that the special assembly session violated the rules of the House as it began without ‘Vande Mataram’

Uddhav Thackeray-led Govt Wins Floor Test With 169 MLAs In Maharashtra Assembly / Photo: AFP

Mumbai: After weeks of tussle over government formation, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi Government on Saturday decisively won the vote of confidence securing 169 votes in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party with 105 MLAs and other supporters boycotted the proceedings and staged a walkout in protest. The former Maha CM Devendra Fadnavis pointed out that the special assembly session violated the rules of the House as it began without ‘Vande Mataram’. "We are going to submit a letter to the Governor asking him to suspend the proceedings of the House, and that the House should follow the Constitution," BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis told ANI. "Assembly starts with 'Vande Matram' and ends with national anthem when it is called. This session started without 'Vande Mataram' that is the reason it's violating the rules", he said. Fadnavis also said that they were informed late about the session. "We were intimated last late night. Why was this done? Was it done because our MLA should not reach the assembly?" he asked. Responding to Fadnavis, Pro tem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said that it was with the permission of Governor and hence not against the rule. "Governor has given the permission for this session last night, this session is as per rule and legal", he said. The resolution seeking the House confidence in the Thackeray government was moved by Congress' Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party's Nawab Malik and Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu. Earlier, as soon as the session has begun, BJP members raised slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Har Har Mahadev' in the House. Pro tem speaker Dilip Walse urged the members for maintaining order in the house and allowed former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to speak. Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress's alliance 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' are expected to prove its majority in the state assembly through floor test today. Ahead of the floor test which is scheduled at 2 pm, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, parties constituting the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', have issued whip to their MLAs directing them to remain present in the Assembly. (With Inputs From Agencies)