The BJP in Maharashtra led by Devendra Fadnavis has decided to approach the Governor and if need be, the Supreme Court as the party claims that the Maharashtra Assembly flouted rules, as per the liking of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress. Fadnavis alleged that the oath administered to the MLAs were also unconstitutional.
Mumbai: The BJP in Maharashtra has said that it will approach the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari regarding the appointment of the pro-tem Speaker. The party also said that it will approach the Supreme Court if need be. A permanent Speaker will be elected tomorrow.
The proceedings in the Maharashtra Assembly were conducted by the pro-tem Speaker Dilip Walse Patil, in which chief minister Uddhav Thackeray proved his majority.
Former CM Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the proceedings in the Assembly was not held as per rules. He stated that the BJP will not be part of any proceedings that flout rules.
Dilip Walse Patil replaced the BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar yesterday as the temporary Speaker for the two-day special assembly session that begins today.
"They (Maha Vikas Aghadi) changed the pro-tem Speaker from Kalidas Kolambkar to Dilip Walse Patil, this is legally wrong. The oath was also not taken as per rules. The new government is violating all rules. We are a filing petition with the Governor and might also approach the Supreme Court," BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said.
By convention, the senior most MLA is usually appointed a pro-tem Speaker, though there has been a departure in the past. In the current assembly, state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat is the senior most MLA with eight terms behind him.
The BJP has nominated MLA Kisan S Kathore as its candidate for tomorrow's Speaker's election against Congress MLA Nana Patolem, the nominee of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance.
While Kathore was elected from Thane near Mumbai, Patole won from Bhandara.
Thackeray, 59, heads an alliance of the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, also called Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress, with the support of some Independents and others like the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, won the floor test.
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