M A I N   N E W S

Violence erupts as DF govt wins trust vote

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chagan Bhujbal flash victory sign in Mumbai on Thursday. — PTI photo

Mumbai, June 13
The Democratic Front (DF) government today sailed through the vote of confidence with a margin of 10 votes in a special session of the state Assembly.

While 143 MLAs voted for the government, 133 voted against it. Five MLAs of the Peasants and Workers’ Party (PWP), though present in the House, abstained from voting. Today’s vote of confidence was the climax of a two-week long political impasse in Maharashtra.

However, the victory of the DF government was marred by skirmishes, in the vicinity of the Vidhan Bhavan in South Mumbai, between supporters of the ruling coalition partners — the NCP and the Congress — and Opposition Shiv Sena.

Trouble began after some workers allegedly belonging to the NCP and the Congress, who were taking out a victory march to celebrate the DF’s triumph, began throwing stones at the house of Leader of the Opposition Narayan Rane located in the vicinity of the Vidhan Bhavan, the police said.

Subsequently, activists allegedly belonging to the Sena camp also threw stones at the houses of Deputy Chairman of the state Legislative Council and NCP leader Vasant Dawkare and houses of ministers in the vicinity, including that of Minister of Finance Rajendra Darda.

Window panes of vehicles were also smashed even as the two groups shouted slogans against each other.

A motor cycle was set on fire and several other bikes were dislodged from their stands.

The police lathicharged and burst teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Two scribes, a cameraman and a few police personnel were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner M.N. Singh visited the spot and described the situation as completely under control.

Today’s vote of confidence came after Governor P.C. Alexander had asked Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on June 4 to prove his majority on the floor of the House within 14 days, when the fragile coalition government’s existence was threatened with large-scale desertions from the NCP, some allies, as well as Independents.

This morning, seven legislators — Narayan Pawar, Narsing Patil, Shivajirao Naik, Vinay Kore, Shirish Kotwal (all NCP), Gangaram Thakkarwad (JD-S) and Desmond Yates (nom) — who had switched over to the Opposition — were disqualified from the membership of the house.

The speaker kept the decision on ‘’rebel’’ Congress legislator Padmakar Valvi pending. Mr Valvi had returned to the Congress fold yesterday after claiming that he had been kidnapped by the Opposition. The Speaker’s order was immediately challenged by the legislators by filing a petition in the Bombay High Court. But the matter was adjourned till June 20.

A Division Bench of the high court also refused to grant any ad-interim relief at this stage. The petitioners had alleged that the Speaker’s decision to disqualify them under the anti-defection law was politically motivated.

With the disqualification of the seven legislators today, the total strength of the House came down to 282, including the Speaker.

A total of 276 members participated in the voting. With the disqualification of five of its members, the NCP’s total strength in the House came down to 56.

Of the 143 votes polled in favour of the state government, 74 were from the Congress, 55 from the NCP (excluding the Speaker), two each from the CPM and the BBM, one each from the RPI, the Janata Dal (S) and the Native People’s Party (NPP) and four Independents who are ministers in the government, besides three other Independents — Hitendra Thakur, Digambar Bagal, Babasaheb Ghortikar.

Of the 133 votes polled against the government, 69 belonged to the Shiv Sena, 56 to the BJP, one each to the GGP, the SJP (M) and the BBM, and five Independents.

The Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the trust vote was rejected by the Chief Minister. The latter, while expressing happiness over the survival of his government, said the ‘’result was as expected’’. Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the victory of the DF government was the ‘’victory of democracy over goondaism’’. UNI