BJP, Sena, NCP, Congress MLAs to hold meetings

Ahead of Wednesday's Assembly floor test, all major political parties in Maharashtra will hold meetings with their legislators at different venues here on Tuesday, party officials said.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party meeting will be held at a private club house in south Mumbai around 9 p.m. tonight, the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress joint meeting will be held in a suburban five-star hotel at 5 p.m.

The meetings will discuss Wednesday's course of action and coordination during the floor test.

While the BJP has claimed support of over 170 MLAs, the Sena-NCP-Congress conducted a public parade of its 162 supporting legislators late on Monday.

Since the Maharashtra Assembly has a total strength of 288, the rival claims are expected to be clear on the floor of the house on Wednesday.

Presently, the parties are awaiting the appointment of the Pro-Tem Speaker by Governor B.S. Koshyari who will conduct the swearing-in of the newly-elected MLAs and the other house proceedings as per the Supreme Court orders.
IANS