Maha gov turns down MVA’s proposal
Koshyari: Holding Assembly speaker’s election through voice vote would be ‘unconstitutional’
In a fresh conflict between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the latter has turned down the former’s proposal for holding Vidhan Sabha speaker’s election through voice vote instead of secret ballot.
According to sources, the governor has said that holding assembly speaker’s election through voice vote would be ‘unconstitutional.’ His decision to deny the permission for voice vote has raised a question mark over the speaker’s election slated to be held on December 28. It is also considered a major setback for the MVA government. The speaker’s post has been lying vacant since February this year.
A delegation of the MVA government had met Mr Koshyari on Sunday and handed him a letter written by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, seeking the governor's approval for holding an election for the post of Vidhan Sabha speaker through the voice vote instead of secret ballot. The governor has told them to convey his decision by Monday after consulting the legal experts.
The state government, which made changes in the rules for the election, was expected to receive the governor’s nod and directive for the election by Monday. It also sent two letters to the governor seeking his approval for the election of the new speaker. Instead, Mr Koshyari has raised some legal queries on the election process.
Senior Congress MLA Nana Patole said, “The governor is deliberately turning a blind eye towards the speaker’s election. The BJP has been creating hurdles in the election.”
Maharashtra BJP president and MLA Chandrakant Patil said the way MVA government has ‘insulted’ the governor over the issue of assembly speaker’s election could invite imposition of the President’s rule in the state.
Mr Patil said, “The MVA government first changed the rules to elect the new speaker. Then it said it had sent two letters to the governor seeking his approval for election of the new speaker. Even saying it is an insult to the governor and of the Constitution as well. It could lead to imposition of the President’s rule in the state.”