Maharashtra: Balasaheb Thorat Appointed Congress Legislative Party Leader

Amid the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra, Congress has appointed Balasaheb Thorat as party’s legislative leader. Earlier, Balasaheb Thorat was appointed president of the Congress's Maharashtra unit. Thorat, 66, has been a farmers' leader and has been involved in the cooperative movement in Maharashtra.He is also a former revenue minister. Thorat replaced Ashok Chavan, who had recently resigned from the post of Maharashtra Congress president. Of the state unit's working presidents, Raut is a scheduled caste leader, while Thakur is a Kunbi leader.Both are form the state's Vidarbha region.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will have to prove his majority tomorrow during the Supreme Court-ordered floor test that will be telecast live at around 5 pm. The top court ruled out the secret ballot and said that all MLAs should take oath by 5 pm and the floor test should be conducted immediately after that.

The apex court said that the Protem Speaker will conduct floor test. Meanwhile, Kapil Sibal appearing for Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Supreme Court, also mentioned before the top court to restrain the Devendra Fadnavis government from taking important policy decisions. The top court ruled that the senior-most leader of the House should be the Protem Speaker.

Reacting to the top court’s order, Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan expressed satisfaction and said the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP have a majority in the House. "Sena, Cong, NCP are satisfied with the Supreme Court order of a floor test in the Maharashtra assembly... The Constitution has been respected on Constitution Day. "We are confident that we have a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly. The reality of BJP's claim will be exposed tomorrow," he said. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that Supreme Court has given us 30 hours. If we were given only 30 minutes, we would still be grateful.