Maharashtra floor test live updates: Shinde govt faces trust vote today

Eknath Shinde requires the support of 145 MLAs in the Assembly

Amid the beginning of a legal battle between the two factions of the Shiv Sena — one led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the other by rebel leader and new Chief Minister Eknath Shinde — both groups of the party violated the whips issued by the other group for the Speaker’s election in the Maharashtra Assembly. On June 3, the two-day Assembly session was convened to elect the new Speaker and the floor test is slated to be held today. Rahul Narvekar from the BJP was elected Speaker after he garnered 164 votes.

Why is defection a non-issue for voters?

Meanwhile, in a jolt to Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker reinstated Mr. Shinde as Shiv Sena legislature party leader, removing Ajay Chaudhary. Mr. Narvekar also recognised the appointment of Bharat Gogawale from the Shinde camp as the chief whip of the Sena, removing Sunil Prabhu, who belongs to the Thackeray faction.

Shiv Sena | The Maratha tiger in its labyrinth 

Here are the latest updates:

Legislative group leader Eknath Shinde and chief whip Bharat Gogawale after getting recognition from State legislative secretariat, moves petition to disqualify Sena MLAs, including Aaditya Thackeray for violating the whip.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena has maintained that the tenth schedule of the constitution gives no authority to the legislative secretariat to decide on the legislative party leader, but it is the authority of the party president. - Mumbai Bureau