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Sena-BJP moves court to challenge speaker's ruling

With less than an hour left for the crucial vote of confidence in the Maharashtra assembly, the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party opposition on Thursday moved the Bombay high court challenging the Speaker Arun Gujarathi's decision to disqualify seven MLAs under anti-defection law, BJP leader Gopinath Munde said.

Munde told reporters that the speaker has 'misused' his 'august office' by taking a 'partisan' decision just on the eve of the crucial trial of strength.

However, he exuded confidence that the opposition would be able to defeat the trust motion.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh welcomed the speaker's decision saying 'today's ruling will go a long way in establishing discipline among the legislators'.

"I am happy that those who have crossed sides have been punished adequately," the chief minister said.

Deshmukh was confident that the trust motion would be passed by a 'convincing margin' and hoped that 'no cross-voting will take place as three line whips have been issued to the ruling front members to vote in favour of the motion'.

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