Devendra Fadnavis should learn from Eknath Khadse about how opposition should work, Nawab Malik said
The NCP on Saturday accused the BJP of running away from the House after the opposition party staged a walkout before the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government faced a floor test.
The new government passed the floor test with 169 votes in favour. 105 BJP MLAs walked out before the head count began in the 288-member House.
BJP MLAs objected to the convening of the session and also to NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil's appointment as pro-tem Speaker in place of BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar before walking out.
The NCP's chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said Mr Walse Patil was appointed as pro-tem Speaker with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's consent. The session too was convened after Governor Koshyari's approval, he said.
"They wanted some excuse to run away, that's why all this (ruckus). Devendra ji (BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis) should take lessons from (senior BJP leader Eknath) Khadse on how an opposition leader should work," Mr Malik said.
NCP MP Supriya Sule too said that the BJP ran away from the floor test.
"We are absolutely democratic. We will not stifle their (opposition's) voice. For us, the battle is not personal. We will win their hearts with love," she said.
"Maharashtra never saw vindictive approach. Our government will not work in a vindictive manner...They (the BJP) ran away when the floor test was on," Ms Sule said.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Mr Fadnavis should have welcomed his successor Uddhav Thackeray with an open heart.
"But instead he raised minor technical issues. This was not right," Mr Chavan said.