Maharashtra assembly: BJP's Rahul Narvekar elected new speaker, stage set for floor test tomorrow

Amid the ongoing battle between two Shiv Sena factions led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray, both the sides issued separate whips to the party legislators to vote in favour of their respective candidates during the state Assembly Speaker's election on Sunday.

The group led by Shinde voted in favour of BJP's Rahul Narvekar as the Speaker, while 16 MLAs from the Thackeray-led camp voted against him.

The group led by Thackeray later gave a letter to Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, claiming some MLAs violated the party's directive.

After the two-day special session of the Maharashtra Assembly commenced at 11 am, Rahul Narvekar of the BJP was elected its Speaker.

Narvekar, who polled 164 votes, defeated Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi, who got 107 votes.

The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the House.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of the party later today. Two topics to be taken up for discussion -  Trust Vote and the leader from the party who will be chosen as the Leader of Opposition: NCP leader Jayant Patil 

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday targeted the Eknath Shinde-led government on the stringent security arrangements in place for rebel Shiv Sena MLAs as they entered the Vidhan Bhavan premises from a nearby luxury hotel.

Rahul Narvekar of BJP elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker.

Following is the party position in the Assembly

Shiv Sena 55
NCP 53
Congress 44
BJP 106
Bahujan Vikas Aghadi 3
Samajwadi Party 2
AIMIM 2
Prahar Janshakti Party 2
MNS 1
CPI (M) 1
PWP 1
Swambhimani Paksha 1
Rashtriya Samaj Paksha 1
Jansurajya Shakti Party 1
Krantikari Shetkari Party 1
Independents 13

The four-day old Shiv Sena-BJP government will face the floor test on July 4 during the special two-day session of the Legislative Assembly beginning on Sunday.

The MLAs of the ruling party are standing one by one and telling their numbers. Opposition raising slogans in the house. 

First-time BJP legislator Rahul Narvekar has been elected as the new speaker. The election for the post of Assembly Speaker was held after the House proceedings began at 11 am. 

The post of the speaker is vacant since February last year after Nana Patole of Congress quit.

- Reports Jai Prakash (India TV) 

First day of the assembly may witness ruckus as both sides have promulgated whips. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has ordered to convene a special session for two days for the Shinde government to get the trust vote in the Vidhan Sabha. 

- Reports Jai Prakash (India TV) 

CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction issued a whip, ordering party leaders to vote for first-time BJP legislator Rahul Narvekar for the post of speaker. Yesterday Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had issued the first whip for the assembly elections in which all the MLAs of MVA coalition were ordered to vote for Rajan Salvi. 

- Reports Jai Prakash (India TV) 

Eknath Shinde's rebel MLAs left from Hotel Taj President to Vidhan Bhavan in 2 buses.

- Reports Jai Prakash (India TV) 

Shiv Sena leaders reached the office of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Narhari Zirwal. In the assembly, Uddhav Sena's group leader Ajay Chaudhary, Sunil Prabhu, Arvind Sawant and MP Vinayak Raut are in the Deputy Speaker's chamber. Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil also reached Narhari Zirwal' office to support Uddhav Sena.

- Reports Dinesh Maurya (India TV) 

Ahead of the two-day special session of the Maharashtra Assembly beginning on Sunday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction sealed the legislative party office in the Vidhan Bhavan. A white paper was stuck with a plastic tape on the closed doors of the Sena legislative party office in the Vidhan Bhavan, with a message in Marathi written on it saying, "The office is closed as per instructions of the Shiv Sena legislative party.”

- Reports Sachin Chaudhary (India TV) 

Atul Bhatkhalkar, MLA Spokesperson BJP said, "We have the support of more than 170 MLAs. Udvav Thackeray and MVA should have respected the tradition of Maharashtra by conducting elections unopposed." "Shiv Sena is the one who has the numbers, so there is no point in the whip of Shiv Sena," he added. 

- Reports Sachin Chaudhary (India TV) 

No whip is implemented in the election of Speaker so I appeal to all members to vote as per their conscience. Shiv Sena of Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology has given a whip & so has the Uddhav Thackeray faction.We have an alliance with Balasaheb's Shiv Sena. BJP candidate Rahul Narwekar's name will be proposed for Speaker post. First, there'll be voice vote. If someone asks for division of votes then it'll be done&the elected Speaker will take charge. We expect our candidate to get 165-170 votes: Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP: Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP