Ruckus in Maharashtra Assembly, 5 Congress MLAs suspended for 'hurting' governor

Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government on Wednesday won the trust vote in Maharashtra assembly. The confidence motion was passed by voice-vote. Whereas, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde accorded the status of Leader of Opposition by the Speaker.

However, Congress and Shiv Sena accused the speaker of being biased towards BJP and demanded that the government should prove majority again.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, "It is a Black day for Maharashtra's democracy. We will meet Governor and will demand another round of trust vote."

Attacking BJP, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said, "On the First day the assembly did not work according to the rules. We will speak to NCP and also go to the Governor."

Hours before the 13-day-old BJP government was to seek a vote of confidence, the Shiv Sena had declared that it will vote against it in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Earlier in the day, BJP legislator Haribhau Bagde was elected unopposed as Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly after Shiv Sena and Congress candidates withdrew their nominations.

Bagde's name was announced by Protem Speaker Jiva Pandu Gavit in the newly-constituted Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Bagde, the MLA from Phulambhari in Aurangabad district, was escorted to the Speaker's chair by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and senior most legislator Ganpatrao Deshmukh of PWP.

Earlier in the day, Speaking to media, Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said, "Shiv Sena has decided to sit in opposition. We will vote against the trust vote,".

Whereas, BJP leader Eknath Khadse had express the confidance that they (BJP) have the numbers and will win the trust vote.