NCP blames BJP for lack of floor management in legislature

The NCP MLC Kiran Pavaskar today alleged that the BJP has failed to ensure smooth functioning of the Maharashtra legislature, which has been witnessing frequent disruptions in the ongoing Budget session.
Earlier today, the Legislative Council was adjourned for the day immediately after it assembled due to a ruckus created by the Congress and NCP members who raised the demand for waiving off the loans of farmers in the state.
Soon after the House assembled, the members of the Congress and the NCP trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the government, prompting the Deputy Chairman Manikrao Thakre to adjourn the proceedings.

Pavaskar said, "While the legislators draw monthly salaries of Rs 1.65 lakh to raise issues concerning the people, they (legislators) are not being able to raise any issues for 11 days in a row now."
He alleged that the BJP has "failed" to ensure smooth functioning of both the Houses in the current session.
Meanwhile, a senior BJP minister said it was the responsibility of the state government to ensure the proper floor coordination with the Opposition for transacting legislative business.

He, however, added that the BJP was not in favour of having a floor coordination with the opposition.
"Even if the opposition is stalling the proceedings in both the Houses of the state legislature with a view to obstruct the government from passing the state budget, by law the budget will be automatically deemed to be passed by the state legislature after 14 days period," the minister said.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet minister belonging to Shiv Sena said that the suspension of 19 MLAs of the Congress and NCP in the Legislative Assembly yesterday is likely to be withdrawn after the Lower House passes the money bill.
"The move to suspend the opposition members was intended to serve as a signal to the Sena to thwart its bid to move any cut motions to the money bill (budget) and pass the bill with a simple majority if need be," the Sena minister said, adding they would rather stay away from Vidhan Bhavan and let the BJP run the legislature as it wished.