Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress combine wins Maharashtra floor test, BJP walks out

Mumbai: After the grand swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance won the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Saturday.

The Maharashtra assembly session which began at 2pm saw the BJP walk out of the assembly citing procedural issues in the conduct of the assembly proceedings.  

The Maha Vikas Aghadi government won the support of 169 MLAs in the floor test which was held through open vote. The voting was live telecast according to the instructions of the Supreme Court. Governor B S Koshyari had asked Thackeray to prove majority by December 3.

Protem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil informed the House that four MLAs abstained during the vote.

They include two from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), one from CPI(M) and a member of the MNS, led by Uddhav's estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.

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.

BJP legislature unit leader Devendra Fadnavis objected to replacement of party MLA Kalidas Kolambkar as the protem speaker with NCP's Dilip Walse Patil. Such a replacement has happened for the first time in the history of India as the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance was scared of losing the floor test, he said in the House.

"Business is being transacted in the House in violation of the Constitution. The session itself is not in line with the rules," Fadnavis told reporters after BJP members staged the walkout.

"Since national anthem was played out after the last session, this means it ended sine die," Fadnavis said.

A summons was required to be issued through the governor to convene a new session but that was not the case, Fadnavis said.

He also claimed that the oath-taking ceremony of Thackeray and six other ministers was also not in line with the rules.

"Someone took Balasaheb Thackeray's name, someone took names of (Congress chief) Sonia (Gandhi) ji and (NCP president Sharad) Pawar Saheb. The oath was not taken as per the given format," Fadnavis added.

On the floor test being conducted on the pro tem speaker's watch, Fadnavis said this was done as the government was scared of losing the trust vote under a regular speaker.

"They were afraid their government will collapse if regular Speaker is there...That's why we walked out. We are going to write to the governor saying the business was not transacted in line with the Constitution," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray, wearing a saffron turban, thanked House members and people of Maharashtra after the protem speaker declared that his government had won the floor test.

"I thank all the members for trusting me. I also thank the people of the state. It is not possible to work without their blessings," he said.

"There was some pressure before coming to the House as I did not have the experience of working in the House but only on the ground. I feel fortunate to be here," he said.

This was 59-year-old Thackeray's first time in the House. Behind him sat his son Aaditya, along with other Sena MLA, all wearing saffron turbans.

"You (the BJP) feel stung when we took names of Chhatrapati Shivaji (while taking oath). I will take the name again and again. Those who don't take names of their parents, have no right to live," he said.

"It is not Maharashtra's culture when you think taking name of Chhatrapati Shivaji and parents is a crime," he said.

Swearing-in illegal: Patil

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said the swearing-in of the Uddhav Thackeray-led ministry was illegal as the prescribed format of oath was not adhered to.

Ministers, while taking oath, took names of their leaders and others, which was not as per the protocol, Patil told reporters at the legislature complex here.

A petition is being filed before Governor B S Koshyari against the "illegal" oath-taking ceremony, he said.

The former minister also alleged that the government defied rules in replacing BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar with NCP's Dilip Walse Patil as pro-tem Speaker, and questioned the propriety of holding election for Speaker's post after the floor test.

The election for Speaker's post will be held on Sunday.

The leaders mentioned their respective party leaders such as Sena founder Bal Thackeray, and also iconic figures such as Shivaji Maharaj and B R Ambedkar while taking oath.

"The new government has defied state legislature rules right from its swearing-in ceremony," Patil said.

"We have faith in late Balasaheb Thackeray, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar. But oath has to be taken in a particular format. It is not considered an oath if it is not taken in that format. A petition is being filed before Governor contending that the swearing-in was illegal," he added.

The BJP leader did not name which MLA would be filing the petition, but said the legislator was not from his party.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik rubbished Patil's allegation, saying many BJP MPs did the same thing when they were sworn in.

"If Patil's yardstick is to be used, half the Lok Sabha will be empty," he added.

Patil, meanwhile, also said that people had voted for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance which got 161 seats, "but the Shiv Sena betrayed the mandate".

"Since the first press conference (after the poll results came on October 24) they had started talking about alternatives."

Patil also claimed that the government flouted rules in replacing governor-appointed protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar.

"Till now Assembly Speaker was elected first and then the floor test was conducted. But now, trust vote is being carried out today and the Speaker's election is to be held tomorrow. As per the law, Speaker is elected through secret ballot. They are now thinking of conducting the Speaker's election openly. This is in violation of laws and rules of the legislature," he said.

BJP MLA from Murbad, Kisan Kathore, will be the party's its candidate for Speaker's election, he said.

The Congress has named its Sakoli legislator Nana Patole as candidate of the ruling alliance for the post.

BJP wanted excuse to run away during floor test: NCP

The NCP accused the BJP of running away from the House after the opposition party staged a walkout before the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government faced a floor test.

"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," Malik said.

NCP MP Supriya Sule too said that the BJP ran away from floor test.

"We are absolutely democratic. We will not stifle their (opposition's) voice. For us, the battle is not personal. We will win their hearts with love," she said.

"Maharashtra never saw vindictive approach. Our government will not work in a vindictive manner...They (the BJP) ran away when the floor test was on," Sule said.

Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said Fadnavis should have welcomed his successor Uddhav Thackeray with open heart.

"But instead he raised minor technical issues. This was not right," Chavan said.

(With inputs from PTI)