Mumbai, July 16 (UNI) The Monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly, which is due to start from Monday (tomorrow), is not likely to be a stormy affair as earlier following the recent switching of sides by some Opposition members to the ruling coalition.
In the previous Assembly session, the ruling party always seemed worried and was on backfoot owing to aggressive posture of the Opposition, however post rebellion in the Nationalist Congress Party, there has been a change in political equations, putting the government in the position of strength in the lower house. Ditto is the scene in the Legislative Council.
Following Ajit Pawar’s revolt, the Eknath Shinde’s government has garnered the support of more than 200 MLAs. On other hand, the tally of Opposition MLAs barely comes up to 74, including the Congress’ 44 and Shiv Sena (UBT) together with Sharad Pawar-led NCP around 30, thereby virtually silencing their voice.
Furthermore, since Ajit Pawar and his supporters left NCP, the strength of Sharad Pawar-led NCP has dwindled and the Sena (Thackeray’s) strength is not enough. As a result, the Congress with 44 MLAs will claim for the vacant post of Leader of Opposition. However, there are indications that the post will probably be left vacant till the end of the session.
If the Opposition remains divided, there are signs that the ruling party will not let the Opposition to corner them in this Monsoon session.
But, leaders like Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole, Bhaskar Jadhav, Aaditya Thackeray, who are experts in using parliamentary powers, will hold the fort for the Opposition.
Similarly, in the Legislative Council, the concerns of the ruling party have been resolved due to the rebellion in NCP and Deputy Chair Dr Neelam Gorhe’s (Thackeray group) entry into the Shinde faction, paving the way for the ruling party to pass bills even in the upper house.
After the rebellion in both Shiv Sena (Thackeray group) and NCP, 21 seats are vacant in the 57-member house, The strength of the BJP and its allied parties has gone up to 30. It will help the ruling party to pass the Lokpal or some other bills that were earlier blocked by the Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Moreover, following the lifting of the moratorium on appointment of 12 seats by the Governor, there is a possibility that the election for the post of Chairperson will be held in the first or second week of the session. If NCP gets this post, then former chairperson Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar may get another chance.
