Live telecast of Maharashtra floor test tomorrow, no secret ballot: Supreme Court says important to avoid horsetrading; key highlights

Putting an end to the limbo and bickering in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court has directed the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the Assembly before 5 pm on Wednesday.

Stating that it is necessary to have a floor test to avoid horse trading, the apex court on Tuesday also asked Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to appoint a pro-tem speaker and ensure that all elected members of the House are sworn in on Wednesday itself.

The following are the highlights of the Supreme Court’s Tuesday order.

• Maharashtra Governor should ensure that floor test be held on 27 November.
• Pro­tem Speaker shall be solely appointed for the aforesaid agenda immediately.
• All elected members shall take oath on 27 November, which should be completed before 5 pm.
• Immediately thereafter, the Pro­tem Speaker shall conduct the floor test in order to ascertain whether Fadnavis has the majority, and these proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law.
• Floor test will not be conducted by secret ballot.
• Proceedings have to be live telecast and appropriate arrangements are to be made to ensure the same.
• SC says undemocratic and illegal practices within the political arena should be curtailed.
• SC says if the floor test is delayed there is a possibility of horse trading and it becomes incumbent upon the court to act to protect democratic values.
• Eight-weeks-time granted to Centre and others to file their replies on the plea of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine against the Maharashtra governor’s decision to swear in Fadnavis as chief minister.