Guwahati: Newly-elected Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will have to demonstrate his majority in the state assembly on Monday (July 4).
The strength test would take place on a volatile day as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear two petitions on Monday: one from Team Thackeray challenging the attempt to disqualify 15 Sena rebels, including CM Shinde, and another from the camp of the new Chief Minister opposing the disqualification attempt.
Shinde has said that with 39 of 55 MLAs, his faction is the legitimate Sena and its orders and appointments are therefore binding on Thackeray’s team.
That is the ultimate challenge for Thackeray to be presented with – that the party founded by his father, Bal Thackeray, is no longer his.
The new Chief Minister has said the test of strength is only a formality, and he is convinced that his government will pass it because he has the support of 175 MLAs.
Former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has been praised by Mr. Shinde with being the “masterstroke” behind his success.
“The BJP was perceived as being in an urgent need of power. But Devendra ji really pulled off a masterful move with this. Despite having more MLAs, it takes a great heart to hand over power to someone else,” the new Chief Minister said.