Devendra Fadnavis Government Wins Confidence Motion in Maharashtra Assembly; Sena, Congress Protest

Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' minority BJP government has won a confidence motion in the Maharashtra Assembly through a voice vote, amid much drama and controversy.

The Congress and the Shiv Sena - which will now be the main opposition party in Maharashtra with its Eknath Shinde elected Leader of Opposition - have protested against the Speaker, Haribhau Bagde's decision not to hold a division vote, in which legislators press buttons on a voting machine to record their votes, which are then counted. (BJP's Haribhau Bagde Unanimously Elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker)

In rare consonance, the two parties have demanded a fresh trust vote. They contend that the BJP did not have the numbers to prove its majority through a division vote and have said they will approach the governor.

As Governor C Vidyasagar Rao made his way into the assembly this evening to make an address, Congress and Sena MLAs blocked his way, making it difficult for him to walk up the stairs. Five legislators of the Congress have been suspended by the Speaker over the incident.

This morning, the floor test was brought swiftly forward ahead of schedule and the motion was moved and passed by voice vote. The Shiv Sena's legislators shouted the loudest nays and trooped into the well or centre, demanding division. 

"The motion has been passed," Speaker Haribhau Bagade announced in the din and moved on to the next agenda. He later said outside the House, "I have followed procedure."

Mr Fadnavis tweeted a thank you and said, "I assure that each step by our govt will be in the interest of ppl of Maharashtra."

The decision to avoid a division vote is being seen as an attempt to not bring on record the possibility of Sharad Pawar's NCP having voted for the BJP or abstaining. NCP legislator Jitendra Awhad later said, "We had no time to react...to either abstain, or vote in favour...the BJP did not manage the voting process properly." But he said had the party participated, it would've abstained from the vote, which would have helped Mr Fadnavis win.

The NCP has offered external support to Mr Fadnavis, to "ensure a stable government," it says.

The NCP's former ally, the Congress called it a "black day for democracy." The party's Prithiviraj Chavan, called Mr Fadnavis' government an "illegitimate government." 

"BJP government has betrayed the people. You have to prove majority," said the Sena's Ramdas Kadam.