MUMBAI: Protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar announced that most of the opposition MLAs took their oath of office on Sunday.
He added that around eight MLAs are yet to be sworn in. “They will be administered the oath on Monday morning,” he said, noting that NCP (SP) MLA will be sworn in first.
A three-day special legislative session is being held in Mumbai to administer the oath to all 288 newly elected MLAs. There are 46 opposition MLAs in the House.
Opposition MLAs entered the Vidhan Bhavan lobby carrying a banner that read, “I love Markadwadi.” Congress MLA Amin Patel, who represents the Mumbadevi assembly constituency, said the opposition had deliberately chosen to highlight the situation in Markadwadi village in Solapur district. As a result, they did not participate in the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday.
“We accept the people’s mandate to sit in opposition. We shall raise people’s issues both inside and outside the assembly,” said Patel.
Anant Nar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from the Jogeshwari East assembly constituency, stated that Saturday’s absence was a symbolic protest in solidarity with the villagers of Markadwadi, who had been barred from voting using ballot paper.
“Aditya Thackeray had already clarified our stand on Saturday,” he added.
Jitendra Awhad, NCP (SP) MLA from the Mumbra assembly constituency, mentioned that all MLAs, except senior leader Jayant Patil, had taken their oath of office. “He is in Markadwadi today and, therefore, could not be present in the House. He will take the oath as soon as he is given a slot,” said Awhad.
Opposition MLAs confirmed that they would be present in the assembly when BJP MLA Narwekar is appointed as the Speaker on Monday. Narwekar is the sole candidate to have filed a nomination for the post.
Protem Speaker Kolambkar stated that once all MLAs are sworn in, the House will be briefly adjourned. After that, Narwekar will be escorted to the Speaker’s chair by the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticized the opposition during a media interaction at the Vidhan Bhavan. He urged them to “stop whining” and instead focus on issues related to development.
“The opposition should welcome the clear mandate given by the people of Maharashtra. It is a result of the welfare schemes and development works undertaken over the past 2.5 years. In Jharkhand, Priyanka Gandhi was elected, and Congress won the Nanded bypoll. When they win, the EVM is good. If the Supreme Court gives a verdict in their favor, then it is good. But if it goes against them, they raise objections. This has been happening for the last few years. They should stop this,” said Shinde.
He added that in the Vidhan Sabha elections, the Mahayuti alliance secured 49.30% of the votes, amounting to 3.18 crore votes, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi received 2.35 crore votes — a difference of one crore votes. “There should be a proper analysis,” Shinde stated.