Maharashtra floor test: Uddhav Thackeray-led government wins trust vote after BJP stages walkout

BJP stormed out of the House as the head count of alliance MLAs took place and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray cleared the floor test

Mumbai: High drama ensued during the Maharashtra floor test as chief minister Uddhav Thackeray cleared the floor test amid BJP staging a walkout on Saturday (November 30). 

Uddhav -led ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ government passed the floor test in the Assembly. Total votes in favour of Sena-NCP-Congress were 169. Four MLAs including one each from MNS, CPM, AIMIM and an Independent abstained.

Led by former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Opposition BJP staged a walkout alleging that the session was unconstitutional and illegal. 

After walking out of the Assembly, Fadnavis said, “This session is unconstitutional and illegal. Appointment of Pro-tem Speaker was also unconstitutional.”

“We are going to submit a letter to the Governor asking him to suspend the proceedings of the House, and that the House should follow the Constitution”, he added.

Fadnavis also stated, “Norms are being flouted to conduct the floor test.”

The swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav as Maharashtra chief minister on November 28 capped days of dramatic political developments, in which the BJP formed government on the morning of November 23 with the NCP's Ajit Pawar, who broke ranks with his party.

Fadnavis and Pawar took oath as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively.

However, the four-day-old government collapsed on November 26 after the Supreme Court ordered an immediate floor test. Pawar resigned citing "personal reasons" and Fadnavis followed suit.

The apex court had also directed Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ensure that all elected members of the House are sworn in on Wednesday (November 27) itself.  A bench comprising Justices NV Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna also had said the entire proceedings has to be telecast live.