Opposition Accuses Presiding Officers of Bias in Maharashtra Assembly: A Plea to Governor
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Synopsis
In a formal appeal to Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, opposition parties in Maharashtra have raised concerns over the perceived bias exhibited by the Chairman of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, alleging that they are not allowing adequate opportunities for opposition voices in the House.
Key Takeaways
- Opposition parties allege bias from presiding officers.
- Meeting with Governor sought intervention for fairness.
- Claims of violations of constitutional rights for opposition members.
- Accusations of ignoring established legislative traditions.
- Concerns raised about lack of impartiality in the proceedings.
Mumbai, March 20 (NationPress) In a formal representation to Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, opposition parties on Thursday accused the Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman and Legislative Assembly Speaker of exhibiting a 'biased approach' in the proceedings by failing to provide adequate opportunities for other parties to express their views.
A delegation, including the leader of opposition in the state council Ambadas Danve, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, NCP SP leader Jitendra Awhad, along with former ministers Jayant Patil and Aditya Thackeray, contended that the proceedings are being conducted 'bypassing' established rules and neglecting legislative traditions.
They further asserted that the leaders of the opposition in the state council, as well as leaders of other opposition parties in both Houses, are being denied the opportunity to speak, thereby violating their constitutional rights.
After their meeting with the Governor, Danve and Wadettiwar expressed their desire for the Governor's intervention, urging him to make the right decision to ensure 'justice' for opposition parties.
'The opposition is a vital component of the parliamentary system. Their purpose is not merely to oppose the government but to scrutinize its decisions and policies, criticize when necessary, and propose alternative policies. However, the presiding officers of both Houses are hindering opposition parties from voicing their opinions due to their biased stance. We brought this to the Governor's attention,' stated Danve.
'Opposition members are being prevented from sharing their perspectives and are obstructed during crucial discussions in an irregular manner. While opposition members have the right to present suggestions in the Legislative Assembly, the government is ignoring their proposals. It is obligatory for the Ministers and Ministers of State of relevant departments to be present in the House during discussions on supplementary demands, yet they are neglecting this duty,' Danve added.
'Additionally, the Secretaries of the relevant departments are absent from the invisible gallery of the House. While the Ministers of State of the concerned department are present, unrelated ministers are being granted the right to respond to the discussions,' Danve noted.
Danve claimed that the Legislative Council has demonstrated a 'lack of impartiality' in its operations and has lost the trust of the House.
Meanwhile, Wadettiwar stated that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has also exhibited a lack of impartiality in managing the House.
