Expulsion of 19 MLAs may be revoked by Maha government

Mumbai: The BJP-led Maharashtra government may revoke the expulsion of 19 opposition MLAs who were suspended from the House for disrupting the Budget speech of Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

"The government has indicated that it is ready to revoke the expulsion of MLAs from March 29 when the House resumes after a three-day break," said a BJP leader.

Of the 19 MLAs suspended, 10 are from the NCP and 9 from the Congress.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat too had indicated yesterday that the government has soften its stand against the MLAs, who had been suspended till December 31.

Speaker Haribhau Bagade had suspended 19 MLAs on March 22 for creating ruckus in Assembly during the Budget speech of Mungantiwar.

Since then, the opposition parties have boycotted the proceedings of the House calling the government "dictatorial and anti-farmer."

The speaker has twice tried in vain to calm the opposition members in House by calling a meeting of the group leaders.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too on Friday had promised a "rethink on the suspension decision" only if the opposition participates in the House proceedings.

The opposition leaders, however, had rejected the proposal with the condition of "revoke expulsion first, only then we will participate in house."

A senior BJP leader, however, said the reason behind change in stand of the government was the state-wide Sangharsh Yatra being organised by the opposition parties to highlight the plight of farmers.

"Some BJP leaders cautioned Chief Minister Fadnavis that if this Yatra touches a chord with farmers, the Opposition will get an upper hand and the party will have to face the backlash," said the BJP leader.

Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, however, said, "Our Yatra is to get a loan waiver for the farmers and not for seeking revocation of MLAs' expulsion. The government may try to divert the issue but we will reach out to the farmers and expose the government?s policies."

The opposition parties will be taking out 'yatra' in various parts of the state where Congress and the NCP leaders will sensitise people and appeal to the farmers to protest against the state government for not solving their problems including the one on loan waiver.

This 'yatra' will be held in the middle of the Budget session from March 29 to April 5.

Another BJP leader said, "As per the precedence, the opposition leaders have to be present in the House and request the Speaker to revoke the expulsion.

"If they are not going to come to the House, how can we revoke it. Till today, there have been 44 incidents of expulsion of MLAs since 1960 (the year in which the state of Maharashtra came into existence)," he said.