NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a floor test in the western state of Maharashtra on Wednesday, officials said.
The floor test will be conducted through an open ballot and the entire proceedings vote will be recorded and telecast live.
The top court's order came in a petition challenging dramatic government formation by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday in the state.
As per the court order, the trust vote will be presided over by a pro-tem or interim speaker (generally a senior most lawmaker in the lawmaking body).
"In a situation wherein, if the floor test is delayed, there is a possibility of horse-trading. It becomes incumbent upon the court to act to protect democratic values. An immediate floor test, in such a case, might be the most effective mechanism to do so," said the court.
Both houses of Indian parliament were adjourned Monday amid noisy protests from lawmakers of opposition parties over the making of local government in Maharashtra. The opposition lawmakers carried banners and placards, raising slogans against the ruling BJP.
On Saturday morning Devendra Fadnavis of BJP was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra and Ajit Pawar his deputy.
Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was in talks with the Congress party and Shiv Sena to stitch an alliance in the state to form the local government.
The deputy minister ditched his uncle Sharad Pawar and went with BJP without knowledge of senior Pawar.
Minutes after Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated them and said he was "confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra."
The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena approached the Supreme court against the governor's decision to facilitate swearing-in of BJP's Fadnavis.
Political analysts said there was every likelihood that Fadnavis would not be able to show his strength during the floor test.
