Shinde group moves no-confidence notice against Maharashtra deputy speaker

MUMBAI: A day after Shiv Sena legislature party leader Ajay Choudhary initiated disqualification proceedings against 16 legislators who joined the rival camp, 14 legislators led by rebel Sena leder Eknath Shinde served a no-confidence notice against deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal. The no-confidence notice has been signed by Eknath Shinde. According to reports, at the legislature secretariat, the process for disqualification has already begun, and a show-cause notice for disqualification is likely to be issued in a day or two.

Meanwhile, two independent legislators Mahesh Baldi (Uran) and Vinod Agrawal (Gondia) have submitted a letter to the legislature secretary Rajendra Bhagwat, saying since a no-confidence motion has already been moved against Zirwal, he ought not to take any action whatsoever on the disqualification of members. In the event he takes a decision, it will amount to contempt of the Supreme Court in view of several verdicts in this connection. Agrawal and Baldi also expressed the fear that the seven days’ mandatory notice period may be waived and an order on the disqualification petitions will be passed in haste.

When it was found that many Sena legislators did not attend the meeting convened by the Sena legislature party, Ajay Choudhary initiated disqualifications proceedings against 12 of them, while on Friday, another four names were added to the original list. Choudhary invoked the provision of rule (7) of the Maharashtra assembly (disqualification on ground of defection) rules for their disqualification from the assembly. Under the rules, the member has seven days to reply to the notice.

As per the procedure, the notice of no confidence will be placed before the business advisory committee, which will decide as on what date it should be brought before the legislative assembly.

NCP’s Eknath Khadse said it was well within the powers of the deputy speaker to initiate disqualification process since the notice for disqualification was served much before the no-confidence notice was served on Zirwal. “Rules are clear. Zirwal has legal right to take up the disqualification proceedings since the notice for it was issued much earlier, while the no-confidence notice was served on Thursday,” Khadse said.