It is less than 12 hours before the BJP-led minority government in Maharashtra faces a trust vote in the Assembly but the tug of war between the BJP and the Sena continues. Neither side has given up hopes of a breakthrough.
Having staked claim for the post of Leader of the Opposition on Monday as a default option in case its desired deal with the BJP does not materialise, the Sena threw its hat in the ring for the Speaker’s election.
With the BJP and the Congress also in the fray, as things stand it is a three-cornered contest. In an effective House of 287 members the BJP has 122 MLAs (22 short of a simple majority), the Sena has 63 and the Congress 42. The NCP, which has 41 MLAs and has already announced unilateral support to the BJP government, however, has not revealed its cards on the Speaker’s election.
As per the agenda circulated by the Assembly Secretariat, the Speaker’s election is slated at 11 a.m. It would be followed by a motion seeking trust of the House in the Fadnavis government. To be moved by BJP member Ashish Shelar, it would be put to vote without a debate.
In the evening, Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao would address a joint session of the Assembly and the Council.
