Updated On: 19 July, 2023 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Devendra Fadnavis says demand for her disqualification has no legal basis; Oppn seeks poll to elect chairman to settle the legal dispute triggered by her defection

Neelam Gorhe joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on July 7
Neelam Gorhe’s position as the deputy chairperson of the Maharashtra legislative council is secure for the moment, as the deputy chief minister told the house on Tuesday that the anti-defection law does not apply to her. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had demanded the disqualification of Gorhe, who abandoned Uddhav Thackeray and joined Shinde-led Sena earlier this month. Sena (UBT) leaders Ambadas Danve and Anil Parab said since Gorhe had defected, she was liable for disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. They demanded that she be removed or kept away from duty until the matter was sorted.
Jayant Patil of Peasants and Workers Party of India argued that the post of the chairperson or the deputy chairperson is politically neutral, and hence a person holding it cannot exit or enter any party. He suggested that the chairman be elected immediately to decide the legal dispute, because the authority higher than Gorhe was not in office.