Is Rahul Narwekar the youngest assembly speaker in country as claimed by Devendra Fadnavis? Read here

Is Rahul Narwekar the youngest assembly speaker in country as claimed by Devendra Fadnavis? Read here

Interestingly, Narwekar's father-in-law Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member is the Chairman of the state Legislative Council.

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Sunday, July 03, 2022, 09:15 PM IST
article-image
Kunal Patil

Rahul Narwekar, a first-time MLA, was elected as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Sunday defeating Shiv Sena candidate Rajan Salvi.

The post of the Speaker was vacant after Congress' Nana Patole resigned from the office in February 2021, to take charge as the party's state unit chief. In the absence of a Speaker, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal was playing the part of an acting Speaker in the House.

The Speaker elections were held after Eknath Shinde, who led a rebellion to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on June 30. The new Maharashtra Cabinet has called a special session of the state assembly for two days -- July 3 and July 4.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Narwekar is the "youngest speaker" in the country. Interestingly, Narwekar's father-in-law Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member is the Chairman of the state Legislative Council.

"Rahul Narwekar is the youngest Speaker of the Assembly, not only in Maharashtra but across the country... He is the son-in-law of the Legislative Council Chairman who is from NCP, Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar. So Assembly Speaker is Rahul Narwekar, the son-in-law and Legislative Council chairman, Ramraje Naik Nimbalakar is the father-in-law," Fadnavis added.

However, Twitterati don't seem to agree with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. A Twitterati noted that Shivraj Patil was the youngest speaker at the age of 42 years, 5 months and 5 days.

Who is Rahul Narwekar?

The new Speaker was associated with the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena in the past.

Narwekar (45), a sitting MLA from Colaba, left Shiv Sena in 2014 to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Maval constituency as a NCP candidate. However, he suffered defeat but was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council and remained its member till 2019.

He contested the Assembly elections from the Colaba seat on BJP's ticket and emerged victorious.

Narwekar (45) received a total of 164 votes in support and 107 went to Shiv Sena candidate's account. During the Speaker elections, 12 members were absent and 3 legislators abstained from the voting.

In the two-day special session of the Assembly beginning Sunday, the Shinde-Fadnavis government will have to prove its majority on the floor of the House on Monday in a Vote of Confidence.

(With inputs from agencies)

RECENT STORIES

Mumbai News: MSRDC Announces Toll Hike On Bandra-Worli Sea Link From April 1; Check New Rates Here

Mumbai News: MSRDC Announces Toll Hike On Bandra-Worli Sea Link From April 1; Check New Rates Here

Attention Mumbaikars! Fares Of Shared Cabs To Pune, Nashik & Shirdi Hiked; Check Details Here

Attention Mumbaikars! Fares Of Shared Cabs To Pune, Nashik & Shirdi Hiked; Check Details Here

Mumbai: Sena UBT Lok Sabha Candidate Amol Kirtikar Receives 2nd ED Summon In Khichdi Scam Case;...

Mumbai: Sena UBT Lok Sabha Candidate Amol Kirtikar Receives 2nd ED Summon In Khichdi Scam Case;...

Mumbai: Drugs Sent In Foreign Post; 1 Arrested

Mumbai: Drugs Sent In Foreign Post; 1 Arrested

Mumbai: Western Railway Official Gets 3-Year Jail In Corruption Case

Mumbai: Western Railway Official Gets 3-Year Jail In Corruption Case