Anna Bansode elected Dy Speaker, Opp asks Speaker to decide on LoP

Bansode, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, is a three-term legislator from Pimpri in Pune district. Bansode’s elevation means the industrial city of Pimpri-Chinchwad has a leader occupying such a top post in the state after nearly two decades.

Meanwhile, despite several demands from the opposition parties, the assembly speaker did not announce a decision on the appointment of the leader of opposition as the Budget session concluded.

Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, referring to a newspaper article, alleged that ruling MLAs influence the Speaker’s office to bring attention motion. “It has written that some ruling MLAs went on to offer money to an officer in the Speaker’s house to put attention motion in the business,” said Jadhav, requesting Bansode to ensure such things do not happen.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar objected to Jadhav’s claim saying it casts aspersions on the highest chair of the house.

Narvekar intervened saying that a senior MLA like Jadhav should speak carefully and avoid making allegations and instead speak about Bansode’s election.

BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said that Jadhav’s attempt to refer to a newspaper article should be condemned. Jadhav reiterated that he was merely referring to a newspaper article. Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar seconded Jadhav saying if certain allegations are mentioned then those should be probed.

Deputy CM Pawar, while speaking about Bansode, mentioned that in the 2019 Assembly elections, Bansode was initially denied ticket by the party (then undivided NCP) but he ensured that the ticket is given to him.

Pawar’s former party colleague and NCP(SP) state chief Jayant Patil taunted Pawar saying the ticket was given to Bansode, only after protests by party workers.

Opposition MLAs Bhaskar Jadhav, Vijay Wadettiwar and Jayant Patil requested the Speaker to make his decision about the LoP post.

The opposition MVA has given the name of Jadhav as the next LoP and the Speaker is yet to give his ruling on whether LoP can be appointed despite the largest Opposition party not winning 10 per cent seats of total strength of the House.