Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Loses Trust Vote

16 March, Mumbai

The no-confidence motion moved against Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh by the Nationalist Congress Party was passed in the council Monday.

In the legislative council, which has a total of 78 members, as many as 45 members voted for the motion, while 22 members voted against the motion. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party supported the motion, while its allay Shiv Sena abstained from voting.

The NCP’s motion needed the support of 40 members to go through. Being the largest party with 28 members in the council, NCP wanted to have its own member as the Chairman.

Earlier, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare had warned that his party will bring in the no confidence motion if Deshmukh doesn’t resign on his own.

However, Congress was ready to face the no-confidence motion to expose the secret deal between the BJP and NCP. It is being speculated that NCP will nominate Ramraje Nimbalkar for the coveted post.