Mumbai:The special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly began in Mumbai today. In this session, the MLAs of the opposition Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) did not take oath.
However, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi, who was elected from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar constituency in suburban Mumbai, took the oath and decided to leave the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA). Azmi defeated Nationalist Congress Party heavyweight Nawab Malik. Another MLA of the Samajwadi Party, headed by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, also left the MVA.
The oath-taking ceremony of as many as 170 MLAs was held in this session. Azmi launched a scathing attack on the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). He said, "We are tired of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena's fanatical politics and have decided to leave the Mahavikas Aghadi."
Abu Azmi's decision to leave the Mahavikas Aghadi is considered to be a big blow to the Opposition, which recorded its worst performance in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The BJP-led Mahayuti retained power in the key state and Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Maharashtra Chief Minister at a grand ceremony at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.