Protests by Sena and Congress members after Maharashtra trust vote on Wednesday
After the Devendra Fadnavis-led minority government in Maharashtra won a test of strength by a controversial voice vote, the Shiv Sena has sharply attacked the BJP in an editorial, saying: "They have lost the moral right to govern on Day 1."
In the editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday, the Sena said, "The government has failed to prove their majority and must answer. Can those who crush the Constitution to win the vote of confidence win the people's trust?"
It added, "Through the scam of a voice vote they may have proved their majority, but it is not a majority."
After the trust vote on Wednesday, the Sena, which is now the main opposition party after failing to agree on power sharing with the BJP, protested against Speaker Haribhau Bagde's rejection of their demand for a division vote to determine how every party voted.
The refusal, the Sena and the Congress alleged, was to cover up the possibility of Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a former Congress ally, voting for the BJP or abstaining to help it. The Sena has questioned how the BJP can take support from a party it called the "National Corrupt Party" during its campaign.
"Their hypocrisy has been exposed. Why did the Speaker turn down the Sena's demand for a division of votes? Why could the government not prove their claims of a majority on the floor of the house? Was it to cover up the fact that they had the support of a corrupt party?" the party said of its former ally.
"Those who want to stay in power through corrupt practices can no longer ensure good governance. Neither we, nor law-abiding citizens will accept this. You may have got a 6-month extension but have lost the people's trust," said the Sena.
The BJP and the Sena have sparred bitterly since they ended their 25-year alliance in Maharashtra just before the election last month. After the polls, they failed to get back together as the BJP drove a hard bargain, cushioned by the NCP's offer of support.