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Sena-BJP's mayor-in-council bill defeated in council

The mayor-in-council bill, which was passed by the Maharashtra legislative assembly unanimously, was defeated in the state legislative council by 34 against 31 votes, giving a setback to the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in the Upper House.

The marathon two-day discussion saw Opposition members demand that the bill be referred to the 30-member joint committee of both Houses. However, the state government appeared to be in a haste to get the bill passed in order to implement it in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as soon as possible, envisaging the delegation of executive powers to the mayor.

With the bill's defeat, the alliance has been deeply embarrassed, coming as it does on the heels of the combine's disastrous performance in the general election.

What did the alliance in this time is that the opposition is in a majority in the legislative council. In the 78-member council, the Congress has a strength of 31, the BJP 16, the Sena 13, while the Janata Dal, Republican Party of India, Peasants and Workers Party, Akhil Bharatiya Bahujan Mahasangh and Samajwadi Party have one member each.

UNI

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