Wednesday will prove to be a historic day in the politics of Maharashtra with the Supreme Court ordering floor test for the Devendra Fadnavis government on November 27. The floor test will ascertain whether CM Devendra Fadnavis enjoys a majority, as the Shiv Sena. On Tuesday, the NCP and the Congress put up a public show of strength to claim they have the numbers to form a new government. In the intense battle for numbers between the rival camps, the three parties paraded 162 MLAs in a show of strength as the MLAs took an oath at not to fall prey to any inducements by BJP. Some opposition parties led by the Congress are likely to boycott the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday called to commemorate the Constitution Day and will hold a protest against the political developments in Maharashtra.
The Supreme Court has ordered live telecast of the floor test. There will also be no secret ballot, SC has ordered.
Political developments in Maharashtra on Monday
Some opposition parties led by the Congress are likely to boycott the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday called to commemorate the Constitution Day and will hold a protest against the political developments in Maharashtra.
A day before the Supreme Court rules on floor test for Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis whose swearing-in has been challenged by Shiv Sena- NCP-Congress combine, the three parties paraded 162 MLAs in a show of strength here.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar told a gathering of MLAs that he would personally ensure that none of them loses membership for voting against the BJP during floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Hitting out at the BJP-Ajit Pawar government in Maharashtra, the Congress alleged that the only decision it has taken in "public interest" was to close corruption cases and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come clean on the issue.
The Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will "parade" 162 MLAs in a five-star hotel in Mumbai on Monday evening as a proof of their combined strength in the 288-member Assembly, senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.
Vehement protests by opposition members, especially those from the Congress, in the Lok Sabha over the political crisis in Maharashtra forced adjournment of the House proceedings for the day, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbing the developments in the state as "murder of democracy".
Have 162 MLAs, this is not Goa: Sharad Pawar at show of strength
The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress on Monday night paraded 162 MLAs in a show of strength here. At the event, the MLAs took an oath at not to fall prey to any inducements by BJP.
NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde said 162 MLAs of the three parties were present at the event, held at a luxury hotel here on Monday evening.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar told the gathering of MLAs that he would personally ensure that none of them loses membership for voting against the BJP during floor test in the Assembly.
Pawar addressed a joint meeting of the MLAs of 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress at the five-star hotel.
The NCP chief said BJP has tried unconstitutional ways to gain power in Goa and some other states. "Maharashtra is not Goa and it is time to teach them a lesson," Pawar said.
"A misinformation is being spread that Ajit Pawar is the NCP's legislature party leader who would issue a whip to all (NCP) MLAs to vote for the BJP (in floor test). It is being said that whoever defies the whip would lose his membership of the House," Pawar said.
The NCP chief added that he had consulted several constitutional and legal experts and also gone through previous instances on the issue of technicalities.