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Maharashtra speaker hears plea of
rebel MLAs

The speaker called three other legislators -- Gangaram Thakkarwad (Janata Dal-Secular), Padmakar Valvi (Congress) and Desmond Yates (nominated member) -- who were also served show cause notices, for a hearing on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, all the eight aggrieved members of the legislative assembly filed their replies to the show cause notices. Thereafter, the speaker heard the five NCP MLAs -- Vinay Kore, Narsing Patil, Shivaji Naik, Narayan Pawar and Sirish Kotwal.

The speaker had served the notices after he received complaints from various parties about their MLAs attracting anti-defection law provisions.

Five MLAs had moved the Mumbai high court challenging the notices. They said the speaker had no jurisdiction over the issue and was "partisan" in approach.

The MLAs contended that two days' time had been given to them to file replies whereas at least seven days' time was essential under the rules.

The MLAs urged for the extension of time and on the suggestion of the high court they approached the speaker in this regard. He granted them time until Tuesday to file their replies and began hearing them on the issue.

The high court had dismissed the petitions on the ground that they were "premature".

Gujarati's decision on the issue will be significant because if these legislators are disqualified, the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena opposition, which is depending on the MLAs for support during the crucial no-confidence motion on June 13, will face a setback.

PTI

Complete Coverage of the Crisis in Maharashtra

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