Tri-cornered contest likely for Maharashtra assembly speaker post

The elections for the Maharashtra assembly speaker's post scheduled Wednesday is likely to witness a three-cornered contest.

Bharatiya Janata Party's legislator from Phulambri (Aurangabad) Haribhau K. Bagde Tuesday filed his nomination for the post, besides Shiv Sena's Vijay Auti, the member from Parner (Ahmednagar) and Congress' former minister, Varsha Gaekwad from Dharavi (Mumbai).

The Congress had indicated that it would support the candidate of Nationalist Congress Party but since the latter did not field a candidate, the Congress decided to put up its own candidate.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the post was extended by three hours after Shiv Sena raised certain objections.

However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called upon all parties to ensure a "unanimous election" to the august post without a contest.

He said he would discuss the issue with the leaders of of the Shiv Sena and Congress to forge a consensus.

The speaker' election is considered the first big legislative test for the BJP minority government coming just before the vote of confidence in the assembly Wednesday afternoon.

BJP leaders claimed that they would easily win the speaker's elections as they are in a position to must sufficient votes.