BJP to bring motion of no confidence against LC chairman

In a first for Maharashtra legislature, the Upper House was restarted after being adjourned sine die and got over without singing the national anthem. Disappointed with the handling of proceedings by the chair, ruling BJP said that they are considering bringing a no confidence motion against the chairman of the House.

The last day of the Winter Session was washed out amid demands made by the opposition to announce a relief package for farmers in drought-hit areas of the state. The House was adjourned six times as it was impossible to conduct the business of the House.

The issue was raised when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was not allowed to speak over the financial help received from the Centre. Pro-tem chairman Narendra Patil adjourned the House when Mr Fadnavis was speaking and the ruling BJP termed it as an insult to the CM.

Though Sunil Tatkare, group leader of the NCP, expressed apology over the incident, the issue flared up when Congress member Manikrao Thakre said there was no need to express apology to the CM. Meantime, the House was adjourned five times.

Later Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, chairman of the House, tried to continue the business of the House. However, he said the sentiment of the House is against continuing the business of the House. He announced the House is adjourned sine die and the next session would begin from March 9 and left the House.

Normally, before the House is adjourned sine die, it is ensured the chief minister is present in the House. The chairman informs the House on how many hours were used and wasted due to adjournments. Later, he reads the message of the governor and announces the next date of the session. Later with the singing national anthem, the House adjourns till its next session.

On Wednesday, Mr Nimbalkar left the House skipping all these customs. Distressed ruling party members including ministers Eknath Khadse, Girish Bapat, Vinod Tawde and any others reached outside the chamber of chairman and said that they would sing the national anthem outside his office.

Following the aggressive stand of the ruling party members, Mr Nimbalkar came into the House, restarted it and he expressed regret for what happened. “It was not my intention but by mistake I adjourned the house sine die,” he said in the House.

Mr Bapat said this was happened for the first time in the history of state legislature. Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde shielded Mr Nimbalkar and said that the ruling party was shifting focus away from the farmers issue.

Later, while speaking with media persons minister Eknath Khadse said his party would lodge a complaint against Mr Nimbalkar with the governor and they would probably bring a no confidence motion against the chairman of the House.