On Thursday, Maharashtra Assembly Secretary Rajendra Bhagwat informed all state MLAs that there was no need to hold a floor test, as former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seemed consigned to his fate and resigned before his opponents could call a floor test.
Bhagwat has informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor's orders the special session that was scheduled on Thursday will now not be convened.
The special Assembly was scheduled today with the only agenda of a Trust Vote against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray Minister who resigned as chief minister late Wednesday evening.
In a circular, Rajendra Bhagwat, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor's orders, there's no need for a floor test now, so today's special session will not be convened.
The Floor Test that was convened by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Shiv Sena. The apex court, however, declined to stay the Floor Test and in its observation said that the floor of the House was the only way to settle these issues of democracy.
Minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stay the floor test on June 30 as directed by Governor BS Koshyari, Uddhav Thackeray, in a webcast on Wednesday night announced his resignation from the Chief Minister’s post.
He also declared that he will resign as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Later, he went to Raj Bhavan and handed over his resignation to the Governor.
“I am resigning as CM, as I don’t want a hand in the blood of Shiv Sainiks that may be spilled tomorrow,” said Thackeray, putting up a brave front in the wake of rebellion staged by Shiv Sena legislators, led by Eknath Shinde.
He said he will now start sitting again in Shiv Sena Bhavan and revive the party with youths and Sainiks.
Meanwhile, the stage is set for the return of a BJP-led government in the state with the party, which is the single-largest party in the Maharashtra Assembly with 106 MLAs, likely to stake claim to form the government.
As Leader of the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis is set to stake claim to the Chief Minister's post for the third time. Fadnavis, who met the party's top brass twice in a week in Delhi, said that the future course of action will be announced today.
The BJP, on the other hand, is likely to hold a series of meetings to deliberate on the formation of government in the state along with the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, which had been camping in first Surat, then Guwahati and had landed in Goa on Wednesday night.
The BJP will approach the Governor to stake claim to form the government, which the Shinde faction would back with their 39 Shiv Sena MLAs and other independents.
(with inputs from ANI)
