Eknath Shinde govt proves majority in Maharashtra Assembly

Mumbai: The new Maharashtra government formed under the captaincy of Eknath Shinde and the support of the BJP passed the crucial floor test on Monday.

The new Chief Minister secured 164 votes.

The test of strength was expected to yield positive results for the Shinde government as the majority was already proven during the Speaker election held on Sunday.

The reinstatement of Shinde as Shiv Sena legislature party leader removing Ajay Chaudhary and the appointment of Bharat Gogawale from the Shinde camp as the chief whip of the Sena, removing Sunil Prabhu from Uddhav Thackeray faction by the Speaker also worked in the new government's favour. This would also mean that Thackeray supporters would face disqualification if the Supreme Court recognises Gogawale as the whip of the Sena camp.

Rahul Narvekar of the BJP was on Sunday elected Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly during the first day of its special session.

Narvekar, who polled 164 votes, defeated Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi, who got 107 votes. The Speaker's post was lying vacant since February last year after Nana Patole of the Congress resigned.

The two-day special session of the 288-member House got underway in the Vidhan Bhavan in south Mumbai at 11 am on Sunday.

Out of the 287 legislators, 271 voted, while three MLAs abstained from voting.

As many as 12 MLAs did not attend the Speaker's election in the House.

(With PTI inputs.)