Mumbai:

BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar was on Monday elected unopposed as the Speaker of the 15th Maharashtra legislative assembly.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in his congratulatory speech, highlighted that Mr Narwekar is the second member of the lower House to be re-elected to the post since the state’s formation in 1960.

“Balasaheb Bharde was the only Speaker of the legislative assembly to be re-elected to the post twice since 1960 when Maharashtra was formed. After Bharde, Narwekar is the second member of the assembly to receive the honour,” the chief minister said.

He pointed out that Kundanmal Firodia was the first Speaker of the House to be reappointed, but it was during the time of Bombay state, and Sayaji L Silam was elected as the Speaker before the formation of Maharashtra, and he was re-elected after the state came into existence.

Mr Narwekar filed his nomination papers on Sunday and was elected unopposed as the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) decided not to put up a contest.

The BJP leader, the Speaker in the 14th assembly for two and a half years, was re-elected from the Colaba assembly seat in Mumbai in the November 20 assembly elections.

During his tenure as Maharashtra assembly speaker, Mr Narwekar had ruled that the party led by Eknath Shinde was the legitimate and real Shiv Sena after a split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. He also held that the faction under Ajit Pawar was the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was founded by Sharad Pawar.

While making a cursory reference to the verdict on the disputes involving the Shiv Sena and NCP, Mr Fadnavis said, “During his first tenure as Speaker, Mr Narwekar underwent some excruciating tests of his mettle, such as the decisions related to recognising the parties in the House. It was his ‘agnipariksha’ (trial by fire). His legal acumen proved invaluable during several debates in the chamber.” He further claimed that Narwekar also faced personal attacks but never held a grudge and maintained his composure.

Mr Fadnavis referred to Mr Narwekar, the son-in-law of former state minister and ex-chairman of the state legislative council Ramraje Nimbalkar, saying, “Alongside his parents, Mr Narwekar must have gained some legislative insights from his in-laws.” The Speaker’s election will be followed by a floor test to prove the new government’s strength. Governor CP Radhakrishnan will then address the joint session of both Houses of the state legislature.

In the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections, the Mahayuti coalition put up a stunning show, winning over 230 of the 288 seats, while the MVA could collectively manage only 46 seats.

The party positions in the 15th assembly are: Mahayuti – BJP 132 MLAs; Shiv Sena 57; NCP 41; Jan Surabaya Shakti Party 2; Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party 1; Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1; Independents 2; Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi 1.

Opposition – Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 MLAs; Congress 16; NCP (SP) 10; CPM 1; PWP 1; AIMIM 1; Samajwadi Party 2. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

BJP’s Rahul Narwekar is poised to be elected unopposed as the speaker of the Maharashtra legislative assembly, with the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) deciding not to put up a contest.

Rahul Narwekar, who was the speaker in the 14th assembly for two and a half years and gave the key verdicts tied to the Shiv Sena and NCP, was reelected from the Colaba assembly seat in Mumbai.

Accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Rahul Narwekar filed his nomination before the legislature secretary Jitendra Bhole on Sunday.

MVA leaders met D Fadnavis and urged him to follow the protocol of giving the deputy speaker’s post to the opposition. They also sought the post of the leader of the opposition.

The speaker’s election will be formally announced in the House on Monday. This will be followed by a floor test to prove the new government’s strength. Governor CP Radhakrishnan will then address the joint session of both Houses of the state legislature.

During his tenure as Maharashtra assembly speaker, Mr Narwekar had ruled that the party led by Eknath Shinde was the legitimate and “real Shiv Sena” after a split in the Bal Thackeray-founded party.

He also held that the faction under Ajit Pawar was the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was founded by Sharad Pawar.

In the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections, the Mahayuti coalition piled up stunning numbers, winning over 230 of the 288 seats, while the MVA collectively got only 46 seats.

The party positions in the 15th assembly are: Mahayuti – BJP 132 MLAs; Shiv Sena 57; NCP 41; Jan Surabaya Shakti Party 2; Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party 1; Rashtriya Samaj Paksh 1; Independents 2; Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi 1 Opposition – Shiv Sena (UBT) 20 MLAs; Congress 16; NCP (SP) 10; CPM 1; PWP 1; AIMIM 1; Samajwadi Party 2.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Coming down heavily on Maharashtra Assembly Speaker for the delay in deciding the 2022 disqualification petitions against MLAs, the Supreme Court today said “this can’t go on forever” and sought a schedule by Tuesday.

Disqualification petitions against 39 MLAs, issued during the 2022 Shiv Sena rebellion that toppled the Uddhav Thackeray government, are pending before Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Eknath Shinde, who led the rebellion, is now Chief Minister and has also taken control of Shiv Sena. He, too, faces a disqualification notice. Mr Narwekar, is from the BJP, has been accused of the Opposition for delaying a decision on the disqualification pleas.

The Supreme Court today said a decision on the matter has to be taken well before the next elections. “It can’t take forever,” Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, adding that the delay risks making the disqualification proceedings “infructuous”.

“We will keep the matter for Tuesday. Let the Speaker give a time schedule. If not, we will give a timeframe for the completion of the proceedings. The order of this court has to be followed,” the bench, also comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, told Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Shinde faction.

The court said it respects all branches of constitutional authorities and had not a set a deadline because it trusts the Speaker to act responsibly. “But we are worried about the dignity of the court. No step has been taken in six months,” the Chief Justice of India said.

Uddhav Thackeray, who led the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress government in Maharashtra, had approached the Supreme Court after the rebellion forced him to resign.

The court had earlier ruled that it cannot reinstate Mr Thackeray as Chief Minister because he had stepped down without facing a test of majority.

The court had on September 18 asked Mr Narwekar for a timeline to decide the disqualification petitions against Mr Shinde and MLAs loyal to him who tied up with the BJP to form the new government.

The Speaker has earlier said Opposition’s attempts to press him for a speedy decision on the disqualification pleas do not affect him.

“Whatever decisions I take, they will be as per the law and as per provisions of the Constitution. Such statements do not put any pressure on me as the speaker of the legislative assembly. I do not attach any importance to such pressure tactics,” he told reporters in Pune earlier this week, news agency PTI reported.

Asked about the delay, he had then said he needs time to decide the petitions. “We have to decide on various contentious issues. Need to see which is the original political party? Who was the person authorised to issue a whip? If we deliver a decision without giving an opportunity to all those concerned and without following the principles of natural justice, it would be arbitrary,” he said.

Asked about requests before the Supreme Court seeking a swift decision, he had said anyone can file a petition.

“It does not mean whatever a petitioner is stating in the petition is true. This is a process, and we should allow the court to do its work. We should allow the speaker to function, and this is called parliamentary democracy,” he had said.