MUMBAI: A special session of the state legislature will be held in Mumbai from Dec 7-9 for the swearing in of all newly elected members, sources said. The winter session of the legislature will be held in Nagpur from Dec 16-23.
All newly elected MLAs have been told to attend BJP’s state legislature party meeting, which will elect its new leader, on Wednesday. Sources said the central leadership will decide on who will be the party chief in the legislature.
“We will distribute pedhas to celebrate the selection, and since Mumbai’s air is not all that bad and there is no ban on crackers, we may even burst crackers,” said BJP leader and MLA from Ballarpur in Chandrapur District, Sudhir Mungantiwar.
On Monday, city BJP president Ashish Shelar called a meeting of all MLAs and office-bearers to ensure a record turnout for the swearing-in ceremony that BJP has announced will be held at Azad Maidan on Dec 5. “We have been directed to bring in people from our respective constituencies and be there by 3.30pm. The swearing-in ceremony is at 5pm,” said an MLA requesting anonymity. Sources said Azad Maidan has a capacity for 40,000 people; BJP is looking to have it fully packed.
State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule carried out an inspection of the ground and reviewed the preparations that were underway. Mungantiwar said saints and religious leaders of all communities have been invited and a separate stage is being set up for them. “We believe in working with all communities and not dividing them, unlike Congress,” he said.
Asked if Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will be invited for the ceremony, Mungantiwar said Thackeray is a member of the Upper House and all members will be invited. “You ought to ask him if he will attend,” he said, adding that MNS chief Raj Thackeray, too, will be invited.