The Supreme Court is expected to pass its judgment on the plea filed by Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine. The parties sought an immediate floor test in Maharashtra.
New Delhi: All eyes are on the Supreme Court as the judgment on the plea filed by Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine is expected. The parties sought an immediate floor test.
The month-long political fiasco intensified after Devendra Fadnavis returned as chief minister of Maharashtra for the second term and was administered oath of office in a hushed up ceremony early morning. The major twist was that of NCP leader Ajit Pawar taking oath as the deputy chief minister at the Raj Bhavan along with Fadnavis.
On Monday, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress gathered its MLAs at the posh Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. Top leaders from the three parties - including Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP boss Sharad Pawar - were seen visibly confident with 162 MLAs sitting behind them.
At the end of the massive gathering, all the 162 MLAs took a "pledge" to stay with the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance and not to support the BJP or fall for any inducement.
A grand public parade of MLAs from the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena took place on Monday evening as a show of strength ahead of the crucial Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday. The three-party combine exuded confidence about proving the majority on the floor of the House.
The BJP won 105 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly election that it contested with the Shiv Sena, which got 56 seats; the NCP won 54 seats and the Congress 44. There are 29 MLAs who won as either Independents or as candidates of smaller parties.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.