Justifying the voice vote of confidence carried out in the State Legislature on Wednesday, newly elected Maharashtra Speaker Haribhau Bagde refuted allegations of illegality. He said the voice vote was carried out as per the rules.
Congress and Shiv Sena had claimed that the BJP government was illegitimate, and that the Speaker had refused the demand of ballot voting for proving the majority on the floor of the House. "This is the assassination of democracy," Congress leader Manikrao Thakre had told reporters.
But Mr Bagde said the opposition was late in seeking ballot voting. "They demanded ballot vote very late, after I had finished the procedure of conducting voice vote. I could not have kept waiting for them (Congress, Shiv Sena) to raise this demand. They should have sought ballot voting before I gave my ruling," Mr Bagde said during a press conference here.
He said he modified the agenda of the legislative proceedings as per the rights bestowed upon him as the Speaker. "The election of opposition leader was first on agenda. But as per my rights, I changed its priority to number two. I took the vote of confidence motion first. What is the point of having an opposition leader if there is no government?" he retorted.
BJP justified the Speaker's stand, and claimed that the procedure was conducted as per the rules. It claimed that Congress raised an alarm to corner its previous ally NCP.
"Their criticism has nothing to do with us. They want to target their previous ally, and want them to come clean on who they supported during the motion," Cabinet Minister Vinod Tawde said.
Meanwhile, Congress approached the Governor seeking that vote of confidence motion be held again on the floor of the House.
