BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar was on Sunday elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker by voice vote. The first-time MLA from Colaba secured 164 votes against MVA’s joint candidate Rajan Salvi, who garnered 107 votes only. The Eknath Shinde-led government will face the floor test on Monday, the second day of the two-day special session of the state Assembly. Given the combined strength of the rebel Shiv Sena faction, the BJP and the Independents supporting the newly formed government, Shinde’s government is set to sail through the floor test.
With Narwekar’s election as Speaker of the Maha Assembly by voice, Shinde was able to achieve the magic figure of 145 in the House
with BJP support, while 19 Independent and legislators from smaller parties such as Hitendra Thakur and Bacchu Kadu have lent support to his government. Contrary to the speculation that the House might witness confrontation between Shiv Sena legislators led by Uddhav Thackeray and rebels led by Shinde, voting went largely peacefully. Some pandemonium was reported, though.
Taking a dig at senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Chief Minister Shinde said in the House, “Some people were claiming that some 15–16 MLAs were in touch with them. I told them to name them and I would send them back home by a special flight. I was not looking for anything … but BJP has honoured me. BJP has made a decision that would enlighten the entire the nation. Fifty MLAs have trusted a small worker like me.”
NCP leader Ajit Pawar, while addressing the House, took a jibe at the BJP saying how all BJP legislators got shock of their lives when Devendra Fadnavis announced Shinde to be the next Maharashtra Chief Minister. Turning to Shinde, he said “Eknath Shinde had you told me that you wanted to be the next CM, I would have told Uddhav Thackeray. You could have become CM. There would have been no problem.”
Sunil Prabhu, Chief Whip of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, said in the house, “We shall remember that 39 MLAs voted in violation of my whip. The 13 crore people of Maharashtra are witness to how democracy has been crushed. This is unfortunate that 39 MLAs voted against us. Nobody knows how long you (Speaker) shall remain in that chair.”
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Shinde issued a whip directing all rebel MLAs to vote BJP and Shinde faction candidate Narwekar to Speaker’s office. The Uddhav Thackeray faction had on Saturday issued whip to all legislators of MVA combine directing them to vote Rajan Salvi. By issuing whip to all Shiv Sena legislators, Shinde once again has staked his claim over Shiv Sena as a political party. Thackeray had expelled Shinde for anti-party activities.
Aditya Thackeray also took to the floor and said, “Before anything else, this is morality test of legislators. Shiv Sena has issued its whip. Action will be taken against those who don’t abide by it.” Appealing the newly formed government to not cut the Aarey forest, Thackeray Jr. further said, “The new government should not punish Mumbai for us. I request the new government to keep the Metro car shed out of Mumbai and not destroy the city forest.”
Before coming to the Vidhan Bhavan, Shinde led his pack of rebel MLAs to Balasaheb’s memorial to pay homage to the Shiv Sena founder.
