The newly formed BJP-Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra today won the trust vote on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly.
Accepting the division of votes that took place through headcount, the ruling establishment received 164 votes, whereas, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi got 99 votes. Shiv Sena rebel Santosh Bangar voted for Shinde-led government. Bangar had yesterday joined the Shinde camp.
Two Samajwadi Party legislators and one AIMIM MLA abstained from voting. Incidentally, Senior Congress legislators Ashok Chavan, Vijay Weddetiwar, and 18 others which also included legislators of NCP could not make it into the House before the final bell rang, and the doors were shut for the division of votes.
Lauding the work of Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said that Mr. Shinde possesses strong organizational qualities. He said he works 24 by 7. He also said that Mr. Shinde will remain available to the people through a phone call, adding that issues of the people will be resolved by the Chief Minister.
Taking swipe at the opposition benches, Mr. Fadnavis said that they are political opponents and not enemies. Objecting to the comments of some opposition MLAs when the headcount of treasury benches was underway during the floor test, Fadnavis coined a new word for ED as Eknath and Devendra.
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