Constitution more powerful than money, muscle power: Cong on SC order

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's direction calling for a floor test in the state Assembly on Wednesday, and said the Constitution is more powerful than "money and muscle power".

It claimed that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine had the support of "162 MLAs".

"We welcome the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Constitution is Supreme in a democracy which is more powerful than money & muscle power. #WeAre162," the Congress' Maharashtra unit tweeted.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the floor test for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the Maharashtra Assembly be conducted on Wednesday.

The apex court also directed Governor Koshyari to ensure that all elected members of the House are sworn in on Wednesday itself. The entire exercise has to be completed by 5 pm.

A bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna also said the entire proceedings has to be telecast live. Voting in the Assembly shall not be on the basis of secret ballot, it said.

The governor will also appoint a pro-tem speaker who will administer oath to the newly elected members.