BJP wanted excuse to run away during floor test: NCP
The NCP on Saturday 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.
The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance government passed the floor test with 169 votes in favour. The BJP’s 105 MLAs walked out before head count began in the 288-member House.
BJP MLAs objected to convening of the session and also NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil’s appointment as pro-tem Speaker in place of BJP’s Kalidas Kolambkar before walking out.
The NCP’s chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said Walse Patil was appointed as pro-tem Speaker with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s consent. The session too was convened after Koshyari’s approval, he said.
“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,” Mr. 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,” Ms. Sule said.
Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said Mr. Fadnavis should have welcomed his successor Uddhav Thackeray with open heart.
“But instead he raised minor technical issues. This was not right,” Mr. Chavan said.
I was slightly tensed before coming to House, says Uddhav
After winning the trust vote in the Maharashtra Assembly, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said "I thank the house for showing trust on my government. I thank the people of Maharashtra without whom this would not have been possible."
Mr. Thackeray said "Yes, I was slightly tensed before coming to house. My political opponents are not in front of me now. Yes, i took oath taking name of Chhatrapati Shivaji. I did it and I will do it again, if necessary."
The Chief Minister said "How can this be the issue of opposition? How can anyone stop us from swearing in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji? We have taken names of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and we will make such Maharashtra which will be proud for these personalities."
Uddhav-led government wins trust vote
The head count of assembly members in support of a trust vote of the Uddhav Thackeray led Maha Vikas Agadhi crosses the half way mark of 145.
Final count - 169 support, 00 against. Neutral: 04.
"I declare the proposal passed," says pro-tem speaker Dilip Walse Patil.
BJP boycotts trust vote. After the trust vote NCP Minister Jayant Patil said "Shivaji, Ambedkar names were taken..Why did BJP oppose...Why are they against these great people? This open voting was to stop horse trading... Protem speaker was decided by the Cabinet. That is Cabinet's decision."
Mr. Patil further said "It seems BJP has not decided on Opposition leader's post yet and the former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seems to have competition from Chandrakant Patil and as a result he was too aggressive inside the house."
Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde said "The opposition BJP should have at least remembered that for last 5 years it was Uddhav Thackeray because whom they continued in power in Maharashtra."
BJP walks out of Maharashtra Assembly
The pro tem speaker reads out from the order of the supreme Court, which states need of a internal order regarding floor test in case of a fear of horse trading and corruption. 'The need for floor test has arisen due to these fears the honourable Court's order has clearly highlighted, said pro tem speaker Dilip Walse Patil.
The proposal for a trust vote tabled by Congress leader Ashok Chavan, seconded, supported by NCP's Nawab Malik, Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu.
The head count begins. The opposition led by Devendra Fadnavis walks out of the Assembly.
BJP threatens to walk out of Assembly
“Honourable Speaker, I am only talking about the prescribed rules in the Constitution of India regarding oath taking,” says Devendra Fadnavis. “Even when (U.S.) President Obama did not take oath according to procedures, he was made to repeat it next day. If in this House I don't have the right to talk on the rules of the Constitution, I am willing to walk out of here. The appointment of a pro-tem Speaker is only done once new Speaker is appointed so the appointment of a pro-tem Speaker too is not with due process of law.
“In the history of Maharashtra Assembly never has a trust vote been taken before the appointment of a Speaker. What is the fear the ruling government has, why can't it take a ballot vote? What's the fear it has? All the rules have been violated in this session. This is illegal.”
Assembly convenes for floor test
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis raises a point of procedure even before the Speaker can begin proceedings. He says the session is not following due process of law and summons have been not issued by the Governor. He then reads out from the schedule of previous sessions when national anthem was played first, and so on.
“'If the ruling government has big numbers and majority so what was the need for having a session without summons. We (our members) were informed late in the night. What was the reason?”
The Speaker disputes the point of procedure, while Mr. Fadnavis says if not approved by Speaker he is willing to walk out with his party members. The Speaker contests this is a point of order and not a point of procedure.
“There is nothing illegal about the session and procedures followed. I now set aside your objections,” says Pro-tem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil.
NCP and Shiv Sena issue whip to its MLAs to vote in favour of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray. Congress too issues a whip to its MLAs.
NCP yet to decide name for Deputy CM’s post, says Jayant Patil
The NCP is yet to decide who from the party will be the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, its State unit president Jayant Patil said on Saturday.
The Deputy Chief Minister’s post has come the NCP’s way as per the power-sharing formula in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government, while the Congress has got the Assembly Speaker’s post.
Mr. Patil’s remark comes in the wake of the Congress also pitching for an additional Deputy Chief Minister’s post for itself even if that meant letting go the Assembly Speaker’s post to the NCP.
Nana Patole to be Congress candidate for Speaker’s election
Congress MLA and senior leader Nana Patole will be the party candidate for the Speaker’s post. BJP may also contest the speakers' election and names being discussed include Kisan Kathore, Yogesh Sagar and Babanrao Pachpute.
Mr. Patole represents the Sakoli Assembly segment in Vidarbha.
In a fresh salvo at the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has said there is a “policy paralysis” in the State’s higher education system, and that he is not consulted in the affairs of universities despite being the chancellor.
Mr. Dhankhar also said that a “black hole” exists in the West Bengal’s higher education Ministry in terms of communication with him.
Floor test in Maharashtra today
The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, an alliance of the Shiva Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), will face a floor test in the Assembly on Saturday.
The floor test will be conducted by the pro tem Speaker at a special Assembly session to be convened at 2 p.m., sources in the Raj Bhavan and the Legislature Secretariat said.
Dilip Walse-Patil of the NCP will be the pro tem Speaker.
In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, the State Cabinet recommended changing Kalidas Kolambkar of the BJP as pro tem Speaker. Mr. Walse-Patil was sworn in by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyar and he will monitor the floor test.
Dravidian politics: From revolutionising campaigns to hiring strategists
In Tamil Nadu where charismatic leaders have dominated politics, it is strange that the current buzz is around the exit of a behind-the-screens man from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Sunil Konelelu, the poll strategist of DMK president M.K. Stalin for about four years, has resigned.
The founder of One Mind Generation (OMG) Research Foundation is credited with scripting the 2015-16 Nammaku Naame (We for us) roadshow that saw Mr. Stalin swap his white shirt and red-and-black-bordered dhoti with colourful modern attire and ride the bicycle and bullock cart. He had previously worked with Prashant Kishor handling Narendra Modi’s 2014 national campaign. The DMK has now turned to Mr. Kishor to turn the tide in its favour in the 2021 Assembly elections that could see actor Rajinikanth hit the campaign trail in his quest for Chief Ministership.
(With inputs from our Correspondents and agencies)
