MAHARASTRA / One of the 12 suspended BJP MLAs reached the assembly, proceedings adjourned after the uproar

There was a ruckus in the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday when an MLA, one of the 12 suspended BJP MPs, reached the House. Due to the uproar, the proceedings of the House were adjourned during the Question Hour.

12 BJP MLAs from Maharashtra were suspended for one year in July 2021 during the monsoon session. As soon as the assembly proceedings began on Thursday, Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav claimed that BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar is present in the House.

The suspension of 12 BJP MLAs has recently been declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The court has said that the suspension of any MLA can be done only for the remaining period of the current session.

Jadhav initially said that the judiciary cannot interfere in the working of the legislature. However, he later said that he was not against the suspension of the MLAs being withdrawn. Along with this, Jadhav said that he wanted to know the status of the resolution through which he was suspended.

The Supreme Court had earlier this year set aside the suspension of 12 BJP MLAs. It was also termed as inferior to expulsion and disqualification. It had also said that the suspension till after the remaining period of the session concerned would affect the democratic system.

BJP MLAs Yogesh Sagar, Sanjay Kute, Ashish Shelar, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkalkar, Parag Alwani, Harish Pimple, Jaykumar Rawal, Narayan Kuche, Ram Satpute and Kirtikumar Bhangadiya were arrested last year for alleged misbehavior with the then presiding officer Jadhav. was suspended.

On Thursday, Jadhav objected to suspended MLA Yogesh Sagar from participating in the proceedings during the Question Hour. Raising the issue of procedure, Jadhav asked how the MLAs were allowed to enter the House before the completion of the one-year suspension. He said the assembly suspended the legislators and the judiciary cannot interfere in the proceedings of the legislature. Jadhav also said that the legislature should assert itself on the issue. Members of the opposition and members of the ruling party reached the Well of the House. As a result there was an uproar. Thereafter, Deputy Speaker Narhari Jirwal adjourned the House till the end of the Question Hour.

Ashish Shelar, one of the suspended MLAs, said the 89-page court verdict does not interfere with the powers of the legislature. The court has termed the period of suspension as illegal and unconstitutional. Shelar said the court has declared the motion illegal and unconstitutional. The BJP MLA said the state legislature had to face embarrassment in the apex court due to the arrogance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

To this, Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab claimed that the motion has not been termed as illegal and unconstitutional, only questioned the period of suspension.