Uddhav Steps Down as Apex Court Refuses to Give Relief from Floor Test

29 Jun, 2022 21:58 IST|Sakshi Post

New Delhi: In a major setback to the Uddhav-led MVA government, the Supreme Court has refused to stay the June 30 floor test mandated by the Maharashtra Governor Bhagar Singh Koshiyari who ordered the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove majority on the floor of the state Assembly. 

Earlier today, Shiv Sena had moved the apex court challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's order convening a floor test on Thursday.

The top court bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala, however, said that the result of the trust vote will depend on the petition, when it is heard next on July 11 along with other petitions related to the case.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu, argued that the Governor hastened in calling a floor test within 24 hours. He also cited that two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders are COVID-19 positive and two Congress leaders are abroad to emphasise that the trust vote may be delayed. 

On the other hand senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde, had argued before the top court that a floor test can never be delayed and that it was the “only way to determine political accountability and avoid horse trading.”

Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated that the floor test is supposed to find out the true majority that will include those eligible. “There is the supersonic speed for the Floor Test. The Floor Test determines which government represents the will of the people. A Floor Test is supposed to find out the true majority. The true majority will include those eligible to be included,” Singhvi said.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi read out the letter by 34 Sena MLAs to Governor Koshyari and said, “This itself amounts to giving up membership, as per Supreme Court decisions. Your conduct in approaching Guv is an act of giving up membership.”

Also Read: Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar

Before the cabinet meeting, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hinted that if the coalition MVA government failed to get relief from the Supreme Court, he will resign from the post, the sources said. It is said Uddhav informed his cabinet colleagues about the decision to step down if the apex court refuses to rule in the government's favour on the plea challenging the floor test cal by the Governor. Uddhav Thackeray stepped down from the chief minister's post a while ago. He resigned from the MLC post too. 

Meanwhile, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde said that he and his party MLAs will return to Mumbai from Guwahati tomorrow when the Uddhav Thackeray government will face a floor test to prove his majority in Maharashtra assembly.

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