Eknath Shinde’s government won the trust vote in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by 164-99. Up to ten MLAs, including former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan, reportedly arrived late and found the doors to the Vidhan Sabha closed.
Earlier on Sunday, BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar was elected Speaker of the House. The position was vacant since February 2021, as then-Speaker Nana Patole resigned to be Congress party’s State President.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Ajit Pawar was elected the leader of the opposition.
Both Shiv Sena groups seek disqualification of rivals
Bharat Gogawale, the newly appointed Shiv Sena Chief Whip in the Assembly, sought the disqualification of 16 MLAs who defied the party whip in the recent Assembly votings.
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena submitted a similar petition to the newly-elected speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of rival MLAs.