Nimbalkar asks party group leaders to decide Paricharak's fate

Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar Thursday ruled that party group leaders should decide whether BJP-backed independent legislator Prashant Paricharak be dismissed or not.

Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab had moved a proposal seeking dismissal of Paricharak from the Legislative Council for his controversial remarks on the wives of the army personnel in 2017.

After his remarks, Paricharak was suspended from the Upper House in March 2017. However, his suspension was revoked exactly a year later, following which Parab had moved the proposal to dismiss him.

"In my opinion, Parab's proposal is not acceptable. But in the last assembly session it was discussed that the decision on it will be taken by the party group leaders. So, the party group leaders should take a call on the proposal to dismiss Paricharak and whether to allow him entry into the House," Nimbalkar ruled in the House.

Even as Nimbalkar was giving his ruling, Shiv Sena legislators and opposition parties started raising slogans and questioning him.

Speaking to reporters later, Parab said, "We felt that my proposal to dismiss Paricharak has been rejected and he has been allowed to enter the House. However, the chairman has actually ruled that the party group leaders should decide on my proposal and whether to allow him in the House."