Maha speaker’s election likely on July 6; Cong to seek views of MLAs on nominee for the post

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker’s election is expected to take place on July 6 which is the second day of the two-day monsoon session.

Congress legislator Sangram Thopte is the party’s nominee. However, veteran party leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday said the party’s candidate will be announced from Delhi. Congress party in charge of Maharashtra HK Patil is expected to arrive in Mumbai on July 4 to meet the party legislators.

“Delhi will announce the Congress party’s nominee for the Speaker’s post. It is not yet known whether the election will be held on July 6 or later. Our in-charge, our president and the senior leaders will take the decision and it will be approved by Delhi. I have no idea about the differences with the NCP, but there should be no reason for the same,’’ said Chavan.

On the other hand, the state Congress president Nana Patole clarified that there were no differences among the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners over the Speaker’s poll. The Congress nominee will get elected comfortably.

“The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will be from the Congress party, there are no differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Congress party will seek the views of its MLAs and inform the party leaders and thereafter the party nominee will be announced,’’ said Patole.

The MVA is confident to win the Speaker’s post as the ruling partners claim the support of at least 170 legislators.