MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government on Friday won a confidence motion in the Assembly by 153 votes to none. The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party staged a walkout.

The two parties on Thursday issued notices of no confidence against the Government for its "overall failure" and Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende for not allowing BJP members to speak on a discussion. Mr. Shende on Friday said he was not in a position to take a decision as one of the notices was against him. The Speaker was unwell and could not take a decision on the no-trust vote against the Government.

The Assembly was adjourned as soon as it began after BJP leader Gopinath Munde accused the Deputy Speaker of "dictatorship."

To a demand from ruling party members, Mr. Munde, later offered an unconditional apology, saying he had meant no disrespect to Mr. Shende. However, the Opposition shouted slogans and disrupted the House, making repeated demands for a discussion on the no confidence motion. Towards the end of the day, in a surprise move, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh moved the confidence motion, which was put to a voice vote.

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