Maharashtra Assembly to get new Speaker next week

Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is among the key contenders for the post. File pic

The Maharashtra Assembly is set to have a full-time speaker elected next week after the post fell vacant last year as the incumbent Nana Patole quit to assume the role of the state Congress president.

The Congress will get the post as per the Maha Vikas Aghadi's power sharing formula. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan as well as Sangram Thopte and Amin Patel are among the frontrunners. The Congress high command will declare the party's official candidate once the notification is issued this weekend, the poll could be held on December 28 - the last day of the winter session.

To facilitate a smooth election, the MVA has changed the rules. Instead of a secret ballot, the speaker will be elected by voice vote, thus preventing any cross voting. The BJP, however, opposed the change saying that the MVA wasn't confident of winning the election. It also accused the government of suspending its 12 MLAs to reduce the Opposition's strength. The MVA claims to have the support of 170 MLAs, which is way ahead of the opposition BJP and its allies.

On Friday, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis demanded that the suspension of the MLAs be lifted because, as per Supreme Court directive, they have submitted their request to the Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal. The former CM said the election should not be held without the 12 MLAs participation. Zirwal, however, rejected the plea saying that the Apex court's directive did not apply to the legislature.

Dec 28
Day the poll is likely to be held