The special three-day Maharashtra Assembly started today i.e. on December 7. The special session of the lower house of the state legislature began at 11 a.m.
Several members of the ruling parties, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took oath as members of the assembly.
Highlights of the Formation of the Government of Maharashtra
However, members of 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 held state elections.
While you're talking to ANIShiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray said, “We have boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today because democracy is being killed through 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 curfew and arrests at Markadwadi village in Solapur constituency of Malshira, where villagers are demanding a mock poll using ballot papers. To this, Thackeray said, “We are not taking oath considering the doubts people have in their hearts.”
Comments on the winning MLAs of MVA will not take oath
Noting that opposition leaders cannot refuse to take oath, NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, “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: “The Speaker of the General Assembly will be elected through ballots and then they may demand electronic machines. If this continues to happen, there will be no government formation anywhere in the country. The way the elections happened, it happened democratically… all the elected MLAs will take oath today and after that the leaders of three of the parties will sit together and take decisions, their discussions have already started…'
Meanwhile, the elections for the new Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly are likely to take place on December 9.
(With input from agencies)
