Deshmukh wins trust vote

Significantly, the names of at least seven of the 10 legislators led by Harshavardhan Patil had figured in the list of legislators submitted by Sena-BJP alliance to Governor P C Alexander while staking claim to form the government. In fact, the Sena-BJP alliance had left the Indapur seat for Harshavardhan Patil, who was minister of state in the Narayan Rane government.

The Chief Minister reiterated that since the Sena-BJP alliance had refused to reach a consensus on the Speaker8217;s election, the Democractic Front has decided to contest the election for the Deputy Speaker8217;s posttoo, which is scheduled to be held during the winter session of the state legislature commencing from December 13 at Nagpur.

Following many complaints from farmers, Deshmukh said he has asked Maharashtra State Electricity Board MSEB Chairman Ashoke Basak to forthwith stop coercive measures against the erring farmers. 8220;We will review the hike in power tariff resorted by the former Sena-BJP government and till that time, Basak will ensure that farmers are not harassed,8221; the Chief Minister added.

Deshmukh reiterated that the government will present a White Paper on the State8217;s economy within a couple of days.

On the scheme to provide free houses to 40 lakh slumdwellers, Deshmukh said his government is considering to amend the entire scheme to make it economically viable. 8220;We certainly feel that free houses should be given to the slumdwellers, but it appears that unless the existing scheme is suitably amended, it will not be feasible,8221; he pointed out.

Referring to the Srikrishna Commission8217;s report,Deshmukh assured that his government will not interfere in the process of law or act vindictive8217;.

Earlier, in the Lower House, the Democratic Front Government unanimously won the vote of confidence after the Sena BJP opposition led by Narayan Rane staged a walkout.

Agitated Opposition members staged a noisy walkout after their adjournment motion regarding the attack on Sena member from Shivajinagar Pune Vinayak Niman, who was attacked by some unidentified persons with choppers on October 19, was rejected.

BJP leader Gopinath Munde informed that the brutal attack on the Sena member was aimed at preventing him from voting for the Speaker8217;s election. When he claimed that during the Sena-BJP rule, there as not a single attack on the elected representatives, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Cabinet member Madhukar Pichad took strong objection, stating that their houses were attacked by none other than Sena activists.

Congress8217; Satish Chaturvedi proposed the vote of confidence which was won bythe front by a voice vote as the Opposition members had abstained from voting.