Sena UBT MLAs Boycott Oath-Taking In Maharashtra Assembly; 'Have Doubts About EVM,' Says Aaditya Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday announced that his party’s winning MLAs would not take the oath during the special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, citing doubts about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). "If this was truly the people's mandate, there would have been celebrations, but none were seen," he said, questioning the legitimacy of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance’s victory in the 2024 assembly elections.

Special 3-Day Session Of Maharashtra Assembly Begins

The three-day special session of the Maharashtra Assembly commenced on Saturday with the swearing-in of newly elected MLAs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took the oath of MLA during the session. The agenda includes the election of a new Speaker and setting the legislative tone for the winter session in Nagpur, scheduled from December 16 to 21.

On Friday, senior BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker by Governor CP Radhakrishnan, marking the start of the assembly’s proceedings. The Maharashtra legislative assembly, the lower house of the state’s bicameral legislature, comprises 288 members directly elected from single-member constituencies.

Earlier this week, Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Chief Minister in a grand ceremony at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar of NCP took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and senior NDA leaders in attendance.

Mahayuti's Landslide Victory In 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Polls

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Polls, winning a commanding 235 seats. The BJP secured 132 seats, Shiv Sena claimed 57 and the NCP won 41. On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance faced a significant defeat. Congress managed only 16 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 and the NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction secured 10 seats.