This is an archive article published on May 11, 2023
Supreme Court Maharashtra order: Ball back in Speaker Rahul Narvekar’s court; ex-Sena, ex-NCP, now BJP leader
A first-time MLA with family connections in politics, Narvekar is accused by NCP, Cong of being partisan in running House affairs. But, continues to be close to Aaditya Thackeray
Rahul Narvekar was in the Shiv Sena and NCP, and joined the BJP only in 2019. (Express Photo: Arul Horizon)
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Supreme Court Maharashtra order: Ball back in Speaker Rahul Narvekar’s court; ex-Sena, ex-NCP, now BJP leader
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One of the key questions that the June 2022 Maharashtra political crisis threw up was pertaining to the role of the Speaker. After Thursday’s Supreme Court verdict on the matter, focus has again been renewed on the post, now occupied by Rahul Narvekar. He will now decide the fate of 16 MLAs, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whom the Uddhav Thackeray wants disqualified, with the Supreme Court maintaining status quo.
Narvekar, who has been in the Shiv Sena, NCP and joined the BJP only in 2019, is currently in London on a “pre-decided” tour. He is likely to return to Mumbai on May 15.
After the verdict, Narvekar said: “The Supreme Court has said that the Speaker will decide on the disqualification of 16 MLAs. There was no clarity (earlier) whether a political party or legislature party can decide on the Whip. Now that the honourable SC has given a clear interpretation, we will accordingly decide.”
A first-time MLA from South Mumbai’s Colaba Assembly seat, Narevekar was considered a surprise pick for the post. He was named for the post a day after the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and the BJP came to power on July 1. After the storm that was the preceding month, the BJP leadership hoped to send a message with the appointment to the Speaker seat, which had been lying vacant since January 2021.
Narvekar’s family is well-entrenched politically, having played a role in the local administration in Mumbai’s Raigad and Colaba areas. His is father-in-law is senior NCP leader and former Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar.
Narvekar had a prominent stint in the Sena, as the party’s face in English television media, and as a confidant of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. Aaditya once mentioned their proximity in a speech in the Assembly.
In 2014 though, Narvekar quit the Sena to join the NCP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. He was fielded by the NCP from the Maval parliamentary seat. He lost but was subsequently accommodated with a Legislative Council seat.
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Then, in a surprise move in 2019, he joined the BJP. The party gave him the Colaba ticket, sidelining loyalists like Raj Purohit.
Since Narvekar’s appointment as Speaker, the Opposition has on multiple occasions accused him of taking instructions from the ruling side, especially Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
In December 2022, he had an altercation with NCP state president Jayant Patil after the latter accused Nawarakar of not letting him speak in the House. At the time, Patil was suspended for the entire Winter Session of the Assembly after he said Narvekar should “not behave like a shameless person”. The Congress had also moved a no-confidence motion against Narvekar, accusing him of being partisan in House proceedings.
Narvekar is rumoured to be preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the South Mumbai constituency — news he has so far denied.
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At the time of murmurs surrounding NCP MLA Ajit Pawar’s move towards the BJP last month, Narvekar, who was on a Japan tour, had returned to India mid-way. His meeting last week with Union Law Minister Kiran Rijiju had also raised eyebrows.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
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