Manohar Parrikar wins Vote of confidence in Goa Assembly: Know how floor test is conducted

Panaji: The BJP-led coalition of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar won the floor test as 22 MLAs supported it in Goa Assembly.

What is floor test:

Article 356 carries the marginal heading "Provisions in case of failure of constitutional machinery in States". But neither clause (1) nor for that matter any other clause in the article employs the expression "failure of constitutional machinery". On the other hand, the words used are similar to those occurring in article 355, namely, "a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution".

If the President is satisfied that such a situation has arisen, whether on the basis of a report received from the Governor of the State or otherwise, he may, by proclamation, take any or all of the three steps mentioned in sub-clauses (a), (b) and (c). It would be appropriate to read the entire clause (1) of article 356 at this stage:

Post the SR Bommai vs Union of India case, the Supreme Court ruling stated that the constitutional machinery should be tested on the floor of the Legislative Assembly of the state by votes.

A chief minister appointed by a governor can be asked to prove his majority in case of doubt.

Forms of trust vote

Voice vote is a routine process, following which the parliamentarians/MLAs could be asked to show there is support. Otherwise, vote by slips or electronic voting is also used.

A trust vote is a motion through which the central/state government of the day seeks to know whether it still enjoys the confidence of Parliament or the Assembly.

A trust vote is sought either during the first session of a newly-elected Lok Sabha or the state Assembly if it is not clear whether a party or a grouping of parties command a majority in the house, or at any time during the five-year tenure of the house if it becomes apparent that the government of the day has lost its majority.

The government would be expected to resign if it loses a trust vote. If it refuses, the president/governor has the power to remove the prime minister/chief minister.

In practice, no government would refuse to resign after losing a trust vote.