Mumbai: A majority of opposition MLAs took oath on Day 2 of the special legislative session. Protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambhkar said eight MLAs, however, are yet to do so. “They will be administered the oath on Monday morning,” he said, adding NCP (SP)’s Jayant Patil will be sworn in first.
On Sunday, 106 MLAs took the oath. A three-day special legislative session is currently being held in Mumbai to administer the oath to all 288 newly elected MLAs, of whom 46 are from the opposition.
Opposition MLAs entered the Vidhan Bhavan lobby on Sunday with a banner that read, “I love Markadwadi”, referring to the Solapur village whose attempt to conduct mock ballot paper voting amid opposition’s doubts over EVMs’ efficacy was called off last week allegedly owing to pressure from the district administration. Amin Patel, Congress MLA from Mumbadevi, said a conscious decision was made to highlight what was happening in Markadwadi and so, they did not participate in the oath-taking exercise on Saturday. “We accept the people’s mandate to sit in the opposition. We shall raise people’s issues both inside and outside the assembly,” he said. Anant Nar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Jogeshwari East, said Saturday’s boycott was a symbolic protest in support of Markadwadi villagers.
Jitendra Awhad, NCP (SP) MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa, said except for Patil, all from the party took the oath. “He is in Markadwadi and so, could not be present in the House. He will take the oath whenever he’s given a slot.”
Kolambhkar said after all MLAs are sworn in, the House will be adjourned briefly. “It will reassemble after a short break and thereafter, [BJP’s] Rahul Narwekar (who is the sole MLA to file his nomination for the Speaker’ post) will be escorted to the Speaker’s chair by the CM,” he said.
Meanwhile, deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the opposition should stop complaining and talk about development. “The opposition should welcome the clear mandate given by the people of Maharashtra. It is an outcome of the welfare schemes implemented and the push for development works in the last 2.5 years,” he said. On MVA’s claims of EVMs being manipulated, Shinde pointed out that elections were also held in Jharkhand, Priyanka Gandhi was elected in Wayanad, Kerala, and Congress won in the Nanded bypoll.