The Hindu Business Line : Maharashtra Assembly adjourned over Rane issue

PANDEMONIUM reigned in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday over the leadership issue of ousted the Shiv Sena leader and former Chief Minister, Mr Narayan Rane, forcing its adjournment.

Prior to the final adjournment for the day, the Assembly was adjourned twice.

The Shiv Sena members protested, when the Speaker, Mr Babasaheb Kupekar, accepted a request by Mr Narayan Rane to disqualify 23 Shiv Sena MLAs for boycotting a meeting called by him on Friday.

Mr Rane, after being expelled from the party last week, saw 51 Sena MLAs vote him out as their leader.

However, Mr Rane reiterated in the floor of the House today that the move was illegal and he continues to be the leader of the party in the Assembly.

Mr Kupekar has not yet taken any decision on Mr Rane's petition.

The Treasury Benches welcomed the demand by Mr Rane and did not allow Sena leaders — Mr Ramdas Kadam and Mr Subash Desai — to speak."I have to give my ruling but I am not allowed to because of this pandemonium," the Speaker told the House.

The Deputy Chief Minster, Mr R.R. Patil, said the post of the Leader of Opposition is an important one. Therefore, it is appropriate to give a ruling on Mr Rane's disqualification petition as soon as possible, he said. Prior to the start of the Assembly, Mr Rane had moved a disqualification petition against 23 Sena legislators claiming that they had violated the whip by not attending the Legislature Party meeting on Friday.

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