Opposition MPs take oath on second day of extraordinary session

BOMBAI: President of the Protem Kalidas Kolambkar announced that most opposition MPs were sworn in on Sunday.
He added that around eight MPs are yet to be sworn in. “They will take oath on Monday morning,” he said, noting that PCN (SP) MPs will take oath first.
A three-day extraordinary legislative session is being held in Mumbai to administer oath to the 288 newly elected MLAs. There are 46 opposition MPs in the House.
Opposition MPs entered the hall of Vidhan Bhavan holding a banner that read: “I love Markadwadi”. Congress MP Amin Patelwho represents Mumbadevi assembly constituency, said the opposition had deliberately chosen to highlight the situation in Markadwadi village of Solapur district. As a result, they did not participate in the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday.
“We accept the mandate of the people to sit in opposition. We will raise the issues of people both inside and outside the assembly,” Patel said.
Anant Nar, Shiv Sena MP (UBT) from Jogeshwari East assembly constituency, said Saturday’s absence was a symbolic show of solidarity with the villagers of Markadwadi, who had been barred from voting by ballot.
“Aditya Thackeray had already clarified our position on Saturday,” he added.
Jitendra Awhad, NCP (SP) MLA from Mumbra assembly constituency, mentioned that all the MLAs, except senior leader Jayant Patil, had taken oath. “He is in Markadwadi today and hence cannot be present in the House. He will take oath as soon as a place is given to him,” Awhad said.
Opposition MPs confirmed that they will be present in the assembly when BJP MP Narwekar is appointed Speaker on Monday. Narwekar is the only candidate to have applied for this post.
Speaker pro tempore Kolambkar said once all MPs take oath, the House will be briefly adjourned. After this, Narwekar will be escorted to the President’s chair by the chief minister.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde slammed the opposition during a media interaction at Vidhan Bhavan. He urged them to “stop whining” and instead focus on development issues.
“The opposition should welcome the clear mandate given by the people of Maharashtra. This is the result of the social programs and development works undertaken over the last two and a half years. In Jharkhand, Priyanka Gandhi was elected and the Congress won the Nanded poll. When they win, the EVM is good. If the Supreme Court gives a verdict in their favor, then that’s good. But if it is unfavorable to them, they raise objections. This has been happening for a few years. They should stop this,” Shinde said.
He added that in the Vidhan Sabha elections, the Mahayuti alliance got 49.30 per cent votes, or 3.18 crore votes, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi received 2.35 crore votes, a difference of one crore votes. “There should be a proper analysis,” Shinde said.