Uddhav Thackeray govt in Maharashtra wins trust vote

Mumbai, November 30

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance passed the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Saturday.

The BJP, with 105 MLAs, staged a walkout before head count of members began in the 288-member House.

The boycott, it said, was against the “unlawful manner” in which the ministers were sworn in and the House session convened.

Altogether 169 MLAs voted in favour of the motion of confidence, moved by former CM Ashok Chavan and seconded by senior NCP and Sena members.

Pro-tem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil informed the House that four MLAs abstained during the vote.

They include two from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), one from CPI(M) and a member of the MNS, led by Uddhav’s estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.

Claiming that the business transacted in the Assembly ahead of the floor test was in violation of Constitutional norms, the BJP staged a walkout, adding it will raise the issue before Governor B S Koshyari.

Uddhav, wearing a saffron turban, thanked House members and people of Maharashtra after the Pro-tem Speaker declared that his government had won the floor test.

“I thank all the members for trusting me. I also thank the people of the state. It is not possible to work without their blessings,” he said.

“There was some pressure before coming to the House as I did not have the experience of working in the House but only on the ground. I feel fortunate to be here,” he said.

This was 59-year-old Thackeray’s first time in the House. Behind him sat his son Aaditya, along with other Sena MLA, all wearing saffron turbans.

“You (the BJP) feel stung when we took names of Chhatrapati Shivaji (while taking oath). I will take the name again and again. Those who don’t take names of their parents, have no right to live,” he said.

“It is not Maharashtra’s culture when you think taking name of Chhatrapati Shivaji and parents is a crime,” he said.

In the October 21 Assembly election, the BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 105 seats. The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress won 56, 54 and 44 seats, respectively, in the October 21 polls. PTI