Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has announced that the cross-examination process, related to disqualification petitions filed by Shiv Sena MLAs, will commence on November 23.
According to the schedule issued by Mr. Narwekar, cross-examination will be held twice a week. Recently, the Supreme Court directed Mr. Narwekar to spell out the timeline for adjudication of the disqualification petitions filed against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Sena MLAs within a week. Mr. Narwekar on September 25 initiated the hearing and decided to conduct the next hearing on October 13.
This move, however, has been criticised by the Shiv Sena (UBT), which views it as a delaying tactic. Former Minister and Uddhav Thackeray loyalist Anil Parab said that the Speaker could complete the hearings of the disqualification pleas “within a month”. He said that many developments in the case are “admitted facts” and there is no reason to prolong the proceedings. “Post November 23, there will be a Winter Session of the Assembly. So, the hearing won’t take place during that time as well,” Mr. Parab said.
