Still to recover from a shocking defeat in the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the first day of the oath-taking ceremony, alleging that the BJP-led MahaYuti registered a landslide victory in the Assembly polls because of the manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
However, the MLAs belonging to the MVA - comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) may take oath on Sunday, the second and final day of the oath-taking ceremony. While the MVA MLAs staged a walk out en masse from the State Assembly, two MLAs belonging to the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party took oath. The three MVA constituents collectively account for 46 MLAs in a 288-member State Assembly as against the combined strength of the ruling MahaYuti -comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (ES) and NCP (Ajit Pawar-of 235 in the House. After staging a walkout from the House, the MVA leaders gathered near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and explained their stage a walk from the State Assembly,
Talking to media persons, state Congress President and senior party MLA Nana Patole said: "Despite the BJP alliance forming the government after the state assembly elections, the public sentiment is that this government does not reflect their votes. It is not a government of the people's mandate. The sentiment of the people in Markadwadi mirrors that of the majority in the state. Respecting public opinion, members of the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) have decided not to take their oath today". "We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs. This is not the mandate of the public, it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India," said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who is the leader of the legislature party. Meanwhile, pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar - who is administering oath to the newly elected members - administered oath to a majority of 235 ruling MVA members on Saturday. He will complete the administration of oath-taking to rest of the new members on Sunday.
On Monday, there will be election to the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, which is a mere formality considering the small strength of the Opposition.
This is for the first time in the history of Maharashtra, that there would not be a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly.
The Opposition MVA - comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) -put up a pathetic performance by winning a meagre 46 seats. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats, the Congress and NCP (SP) won 16 and 10 seats respectively. Such was the rout of the MVA in the polls that there will be no Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly. Because, none of the MVA constituents - Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) - has won 10 per cent of the total 288 seats in the House to stake a claim for the LoP's post. In view of the fact that none of the Opposition parties - including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP ( SP) - managed to get even ten per cent of the total 288 seats, Fadnavis was earlier asked if there will be a leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly. "We will treat the Opposition with respect. As far as LoP is concerned, it is a decision to be taken by the Speaker," the chief minister said.
