Congress on Monday protested vociferously both inside and outside the Parliament on Monday against the political developments in Maharashtra as it stalled proceedings in both Houses and accused the BJP of “murdering democracy” in the State.

Congress along with some Opposition parties have also decided to boycott the joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday called to commemorate the Constitution Day. Sources said the opposition led by the Congress, left parties and NCP, TMC and DMK have planned a joint protest outside Ambedkar statue inside Parliament complex against the political developments in Maharashtra and installing a government led by Devendra Fadnavis with Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister.

While Congress president Sonia Gandhi led the protest by party MPs near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parliament complex, party leader Rahul Gandhi led the charge in the Lok Sabha where he dubbed the developments in the State a “murder of democracy”.

Sonia Gandhi led the party MPs near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, setting the tone for the protests. Congress leaders, including Ahmed Patel, Anand Sharma and Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, raised slogans and held placards criticising the BJP and demanding “justice”.

Congress’ youth wing IYC also staged a demonstration near the Parliament House, against the BJP-led Centre over alleged “illegal and undemocratic” manner of Government formation in Maharashtra. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP of disregarding the Constitution in Maharashtra and repeating the “game” it played in Karnataka.

Asserting that the Constitution was “trampled upon” in Maharashtra, Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said an “illegitimate Government” of the BJP and Ajit Pawar was formed. “We requested the Supreme Court that a floor test be ordered immediately so that it is proven that the majority is with the alliance formed for Maharashtra’s development - Congress-Sena-NCP. We showed the affidavits of 154 MLAs that clearly prove that the alliance has the majority,” Surjewala told reporters, asserting the number will go up when other “MLAs are freed from BJP’s jail”.

Surjewala said “contract killing of democracy” by the BJP has also become “contract killing of honesty and accountability”.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the government’s move of issuing a notification on Monday to close probe in nine cases of alleged corruption in irrigation projects in Maharashtra, was the “most brazen, shameful act of conspiracy and corrupt practice”, to put together a government “by hook or crook”.