Floor test in Maharashtra? Here's what Shiv Sena, Shinde's rebel faction plan to do
India Today
The Shiv Sena is likely to approach the Supreme Court seeking directions against holding a floor test, while the rebel group led by Eknath Shinde is gearing up to present a united front.
With the Maharashtra political crisis now also being fought in the Supreme Court, the embattled Shiv Sena is seeking legal advice on what recourse to take should the Governor call a floor test in the state legislative assembly.
After the top court kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings against the rebel MLAs, sources said the Shiv Sena is likely to approach the Supreme Court seeking directions against holding a floor test, should Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari call one in the coming days.
Sources further said the Governor could take suo moto cognisance and order a floor test. As there is no protem speaker in the Maharashtra assembly, the Deputy Speaker will conduct the floor test, even if a grey area exists around the no confidence motion against him by 34 Shiv Sena MLAs, the sources added.
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In the eventuality of a test on the floor of the House, those in the Shinde faction will not abstain from voting, the sources said.
They added that that the three-party MVA coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP, is likely to have 117 MLAs, while the Shinde faction combined with the BJP, independents and others is expected to have 168 legislators. In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, the majority mark is 145.
Highly placed sources shot down speculation that the rebel group led by disgruntled Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde would merge with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
