Shinde MLAs seek extra time to reply

Days after Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar issued disqualification notices to MLAs of both factions of Shiv Sena, legislators belonging to the chief minister Eknath Shinde faction have sought more time to respond.

Speaker Narwekar had on Friday given the MLAs seven days to respond to the notices.

"We would need some more time to respond to the notice and we will approach him seeking more time. We are sure he will consider our request. We would need at least a week to reply as we will have to file legal replies," said Shinde group MLA Sanjay Shirsat, one of the 16 MLAs who has been served the notice.


Narhari Zirwal, Deputy Speaker of the assembly who has crossed over to NCP's Ajit camp, has claimed that "all things considered, they (Shinde group MLAs) will be disqualified. However, the final decision would be of Speaker's". His claim has caused anxiety in the Shinde camp.

Shirsat hit back: "He should not speak more than required. If you don't have the powers, then you should not be speaking on such issues."

Meanwhile, Jayant Patil, state NCP chief of the Sharad Pawar faction, has written to the Speaker to "temporarily suspend" rebel NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, till the Speaker decides on the disqualification of MLAs. The Ajit camp has moved similar proceedings against Patil and Jitendra Awhad of the Sharad camp. The Speaker's office has said that there is no provision to temporarily suspend MLAs.