Sena (UBT) demands Neelam Gorhe’s disqualification

Shiv Sena UBT has demanded the disqualification and removal of Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe because of her defection to the Sena Shinde Other Opposition parties closed ranks with the Thackeray faction on Day 1 of the monsoon session of the state legislature on MondaySena UBT MLC and Opposition leader Ambadas Danve said the party has submitted a petition to the legislature secretariat In addition the disqualification of two other MLCs Viplav Bajoria and Manisha Kayande was also demanded for similar reasonsDanversquos party colleague advocate Anil Parab said Gorhe had relinquished the partyrsquos membership and hence she can be disqualified under the 10th schedule of the Constitution ldquoThe recent order of the Supreme Court in similar matters is crystal clear Pending a petition against her she has lost the moral and legal right to work in that positionrdquo he saidDevendra FadnavisIn the house the matter was raised by PWPrsquos Jayant Patil before DyCM Devendra Fadnavis could begin the proceedings by introducing new ministers The DyCm argued that any matter against any member or chairpersondeputy chairperson should have been raised after serving a formal noticeUnperturbed Gorhe said she would allow a discussion on Tuesday on any subject including a noconfidence motion or whatever issue that comes up against her because traditionally the first dayrsquos business ended after condoling the death of former members of the House ldquoThe matter wasnt even mentioned in a presitting meeting of group leadersrdquo she saidWhile the official business was transacted the Opposition staged a walkout ldquoWe were not allowed to speakrdquo said Danve adding that the MVA was to decide the next course of action Interestingly Parab pointed out that the BJP had also served notice to remove Gorhe who has been filling in as chief presiding officer pending the chairpersonrsquos election ldquoThat notice is still active and in addition one has been filed by us Lets see what happens nextrdquo he saidOppn vs govt over farm crisisIn the Assembly Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat raised the issue of scant rain which has created a farming crisis His proposal to initiate a discussion was rejected by the Speaker yet he made a few points that were responded to by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisThorat said that only a 50 per cent of the state had received rain with the rest remaining dry ldquoThere is no sowing If there was any sowing the bogus seeds have damaged growth Bogus fertilisers too have been found in the market This government has ignored the crisis It is busy swearing in ministersrdquo he said Fadnavis replied that the government had a complete idea of the situation and had made a plan to tackle itldquoPeople dealing with bogus seeds and fertilisers will be dealt with under a revised criminal law which will be passed in this session The offence will be made nonbailable with harsh punishmentrdquo he said even as the Opposition staged a walkout