Days after Eknath Shinde assumed the role of new chief minister and the BJP regained control, the Maharashtra assembly is scheduled to elect the speaker on Sunday.
The MLAs who backed Shinde’s coup against his predecessor, Uddhav Thackeray, returned to Mumbai from Goa on Saturday night, as the state braced for another round of tumultuous political developments.
Following the election of the speaker, the Shinde government is set to face the floor test. The process of distributing portfolios will also be closely scrutinised, with the BJP certain to retain key ministries.
A two-day special session of the state legislature begins on Sunday, with members electing the next speaker after the Maha Vikas Aghadi administration falls within 31 months.
Nana Patole, the Congress’s speaker, resigned last year, leaving the position empty. Narhari Zirwal, the deputy speaker, has been functioning as the speaker.
After the return of roughly 50 MLAs from Goa, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, who is now Shinde’s deputy, convened a meeting of lawmakers late Saturday night.
Team Shinde presently consists of 38 of the Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs, nine independents, and two MLAs from other parties. In the 288-member state assembly, the BJP has 105 MLAs.
The new coalition government has chosen BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar from Mumbai’s Colaba seat as speaker.
The NCP-Shiv Sena-Congress alliance has fielded Sena MLA Rajan Salvi against him. The legislators have also been issued a whip to ensure their presence in the chamber.
The first session following almost two weeks of political upheaval in the state is likely to be turbulent. The Supreme Court will hear the case of Shinde’s disqualification and the disqualification of 15 MLAs who backed him on July 11.