BJP may help NCP oust Legislative Council chairman

The no confidence motion moved against chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Shivajirao Deshmukh of the Congress, by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and speculation of the Bharatiya Janata Party supporting it have set the stage for another twist in the State’s politics.

The NCP presented the ‘no confidence’ motion against the chairman on Wednesday. Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar is likely to be the party’s candidate for the post.

“We are trying to garner majority to oust him. If he resigns voluntarily, then well and good,” said Sunil Tatkare, NCP’s Maharashtra chief.

In a Council of 78 members, the NCP — which has 28 MLCs — will require 40 or more members’ support to pass the motion. With the Congress and the Shiv Sena likely to oppose, it is speculated that the BJP with 12 members may step in for support, as a sign of growing proximity between the parties.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said: “Let the motion be put to vote. The chairman will not resign at any cost.”

The party hopes the voting on the motion will expose the BJP-NCP ‘nexus.’