Seven Sena MLAs suspension revoked

Seven Sena MLAs suspension revoked
PRAFULLA MARPAKWAR

NAGPUR, DECEMBER 17: In a day of dramatic political developments, suspensions of seven Shiv Sena legislators was withdrawn unconditionally and in the bargain Sena-BJP alliance withdrew the no-confidence motion against the Speaker and even assured to consider the DF government's `request' to drop its no-trust motion against the government.

"We will take a decision on their request on Monday after consulting our leaders," Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narayan Rane told reporters on Friday evening. The "request" was made by the leaders of the Democratic Front to create a healthy atmosphere for the smooth conduct of the proceedings in the ongoing legislation session, he added.

He further said that leaders of the opposition and the ruling DF met and discussed the issues of seven-day suspension of the seven Shiv Sena members from the Assembly on Wednesday and the notice for no confidence motion against Speaker Arun Gujarathi.

After the discussion, it was mutually agreed that the government will move aresolution for revoking the suspension of the Sena MLAs and the Opposition will withdraw the notice of no confidence against the Speaker.

When asked about the allegations of partisanship against the Speaker, Rane said they continue to be part of the Assembly record and have not been withdrawn.

Today's development have come as a surprise since it was felt that the ruling party will not revoke the suspension of Sena legislatorsin after Sena-BJP tabled a no-confidence motion against the two-month-old Vilasrao Deshmukh Government.

However, much to the surprise of the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rohidas Patil moved the motion to revoke the suspension of Vinayak Raut, Bhaskar Jadav, Subhash Wankhede, Gyaneshwar Patil, Gulab Patil, Dilip Bhole and Rohidas Chavan with immediate effect. The motion was adopted unanimously and subsequently the suspended members entered the House.

The seven members were suspended on Wednesday for their unruly behaviour. The Shiv Sena as well as the BJP had taken strongobjection to the stringent action on the ground that before taking the disciplinary action the members were not heard and hence the action was unilateral.

In his ruling, Speaker Arun Gujarathi justified his action, arguing that it was well within his powers to suspend the erring members.

Subsequently, following intervention by senior Shiva Sena leader Suresh Jain, a series of meetings were held in the chamber of the Speaker to resolve the stalemate.

Rane, who along with Opposition member Gopinath Munde, had earlier levelled charges of partiality against the Speaker, on Friday showered praises on him. ``Despite tense moments, you handled the situation very effectively and in future, we will never allow such a situation to repeat,'' Rane said.

Assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi said that he was happy that the motion was withdrawn even before it was processed by his office.