Speaker's Election: Members of the ruling and opposition parties sling jabs at each other

Following the election of BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar as Assembly Speaker, legislators from the treasury and opposition benches spat barbs about recent political developments and the path forward. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated it was not a rebellion, but legislators took a firm stance against Hindutva, stating it was for the first time in India that the ruling party members moved over to the opposition to create an alternate government.

 

Former DCM Ajit Pawar, on the other hand, referred to the BJP central leadership's decision to demote Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy Chief Minister and asserted that the decision did not go down well with the saffron party, as seen by the attitude within the BJP. He chastised state BJP chairman Chandrakant Patil for hitting the table following the new government's first win for Speaker, stating, "Don't do it because Dada (Chandrakant Patil) may not get the cabinet position."

 

Pawar referenced Eknath Shinde's revolt, saying, "If Shinde had told me in my ears that he was going to be CM, I would have certainly told former CM Uddhav Thackeray and appointed him CM." Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, "This government of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, led by Eknath Shinde, would endeavour to fulfill all the goals of Maharashtra, and we trust that you (Speaker) will provide good cooperation for the same."

 

Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticised the Shinde-Fadnavis government for putting in place tight security procedures for renegade Shiv Sena MLAs as they entered the Vidhan Bhavan grounds from a nearby luxury hotel. "Even Kasab did not have the same level of security. We've never seen such security in Mumbai. Why are you afraid? Is someone going to flee?

 

Why was there so much fear, Thackeray wondered. He stated that the rebels should come together and inform the public that what they were doing was correct. NCP MLA Jayant Patil expressed confidence that the opposition would receive justice from the "son in law," referring to newly elected speaker Rahul Narvekar, who is the son-in-law of NCP veteran and state council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar.

 

 

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