Newly formed government will face floor test at state assembly on Monday following which all 50 rebel MLAs including the chief minister who had reached Goa hotel on Friday evening reached Mumbai on Saturday evening. Out of the 50 MLAs, 39 are from Shiv Sena while rest are independents who have been supporting Shinde.

Mumbai: A day ahead of floor test of newly formed Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government to prove its majority, the state assembly on Sunday elected BJP’s Rahul Narvekar as speaker of the house. With the victory, the newly formed coalition got what it was wishing before the floor test. Both the Shiv Sena camps issued whips to MLAs to vote for its respective candidates.
Narvekar, during the election which held via head count, registered easy win as he got 164 votes in support. Shiv Sena MLA Rajan Salvi who was fighting from Maha Vikas Aghadi team got only 107 votes in his favour. Nana Patole of Congress was holding the post of speaker but he resigned in February this year after he took charge of party’s state president. Deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal was looking after the affairs of speaker since then.
Also Read: Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray removes Eknath Shinde from party posts
It is being said that election of speaker from Shinde-Fadnavis camp is a big victory for the newly elected government as they want their speaker during the floor test which is scheduled for Monday. The newly elected speaker may revoke disqualification notice of 16 Shiv Sena MLA including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who revolted against Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. In absence of a full time speaker, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal had issued the notices to the rebel MLAs.
Newly formed government will face floor test at state assembly on Monday following which all 50 rebel MLAs including the chief minister who had reached Goa hotel on Friday evening reached Mumbai on Saturday evening. Out of the 50 MLAs, 39 are from Shiv Sena while rest are independents who have been supporting Shinde camp.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had on Friday sacked newly elected Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from all positions of the party. Shinde’s removal from party posts came a day after his swearing in as state chief minister as the Shiv Sena alleged his involvement in anti-party activities.
The party, in a statement, had said that the action was initiated as the rebel MLA has given up his membership from the party. “He was been sacked for involving in activities against the party,” the statement said.
Also Read: Eknath Shinde reaches Goa hotel; Rebel MLAs may return Mumbai ahead of floor test
A day after removal of newly election Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, rebel MLAs had on Saturday said that they will reply legally. Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, in a press conference from Goa hotel, said Shinde has received a letter informing about his removal from all posts of the party.
He had said that though they will reply to the legally, but those who have sent should introspect as whether it is insult to Maharashtra people or not. He said that there should be respect for the newly elected CM who was leader of the house in state assembly earlier.
Also Read: Eknath Shinde takes oath as Maharashtra CM; Devendra Fadnavis is his deputy
Days after the revolt against Uddhav Thackeray, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde Eknath Shinde was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday. Besides this, former state chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was also took oath as Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
After heightened political drama in Maharashtra for over a week, Wednesday things settled after the Supreme Court turned down a Shiv Sena plea to stop a floor test ordered by the Governor and subsequently, Uddhav Thackeray quit as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Thackeray announced his decision through Facebook live and in some time, reached the Governor’s house and submitted his resignation.
Also Read: Eknath Shinde will be Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis to be his deputy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated both Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis for swearing in as chief minister and deputy chief minister of the state. Modi, in a tweet, said, “I would like to congratulate Shri @mieknathshinde Ji on taking oath as Maharashtra CM. A grassroots level leader, he brings with him rich political, legislative and administrative experience. I am confident that he will work towards taking Maharashtra to greater heights.”