Nagpur : Day One of the Maharashtra Assembly’s winter session kicked off on a high volt drama, with Opposition BJP leading a massive protest against the induction of Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister.
However, in a major blow to the BJP, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly rejected the formers claim that the swearing in ceremony of Ajit Pawar was constitutionally invalid.
The BJP demanded that Advocate General should be called to give his opinion on the constitutional validity of swearing in of Ajit Pawar. Protocol Minister Suresh Shetty while objecting to the demand referred to Supreme Court judgement in Deputy Prime Minister Devilal case in 1990.
He claimed that apex court has upheld swearing in as constitutional while terming the post only as descriptive. After hearing both sides, Speaker Dilip Walase Patil ruled that Pawar’s swearing in was constitutionally valid and he could be introduced to House. However, he also made it clear that the Deputy Chief Minister’s post was only descriptive thing and Pawar will have all power and authority like other ministers. Amid uproar, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan introduced Ajit Pawar as the Deputy CM. The members of opposition staged walked out protesting the induction of Ajit Pawar.
PRAMOD CHUNCHUWAR
