The special three-day Maharashtra assembly session began today i.e. December 7. The special session of the Lower House of the state legislature began at 11 am.
Several members belonging to the ruling parties, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took oath as members of the assembly.
Maharashtra Govt Formation Highlights
However, members from the opposition Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) – Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) – decided not to take oath. They have accused the misuse of EVMs in the recently conducted state elections.
While speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray said, “We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs…This (the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections) is not the mandate of the public it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India…”
The opposition is also protesting against the curfew and arrests made in Markadwadi village in Malshiras assembly constituency of Solapur, where villagers have been demanding a mock poll using ballot papers. On this thackeray said, “We are not taking oath considering the doubts that people have in their min.”
Reactions on MVA’s winning MLAs won’t take oath
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal remarked that opposition leaders cannot refuse to take the oath, “If they have to participate in the business of the House, they will have to take oath…”
Shinde’s Sena leader Manisha Kayande called it a childish move. She said, “Speaker of the Assembly will be elected through ballot papers and then they might demand electronic machines, if this keeps happening, there will be no govt formation anywhere in the country. The way the election has happened, it has happened democratically…all the elected MLAs will take oath today and after that leaders of 3 of the parties will sit together and make decisions, their discussions have already started…”
Meanwhile, the election for the new Maharashtra Assembly Speaker likely to be held on December 9.
(With inputs from agencies)