Mumbai: With Nana Patole contesting for the post of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, he on Wednesday resigned from his post of Maharashtra assembly speaker.
Patole handed over his resignation to deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal today.
When Congress removed Eknath Gaikwad from the post of Mumbai Congress president and handed over the responsibility to Bhai Jagtap, winds of change for the post of MPCC president in the state unit had also started to blow.
Current MPCC president Balasaheb Thorat immediately went to Delhi and indulged in lobbying to save his post. With this, discussions were going in MPCC that Thorat would retain his post.
But, keeping in mind the principle of one person- one post, Congress has made up its mind to take Thorat’s resignation.
The names of Vijay Vadettiwar and Nitin Raut were also being discussed for the post of MPCC president. But, they were rejected as they were believed to have set the condition of working on both posts simultaneously.
On the other hand, Patole himself had expressed his willingness to work as MPCC president. So, within a week, his name is likely to be ratified as next MPCC president.
Also read: Nana Patole takes charge as Maharashtra Congress chief
Nana Patole after tendering his resignation said that I have informed all the constituent parties of Mahavikas Aghadi. In the coming assembly session, the new speaker will be chosen. He also thanked Maharashtra CM, deputy CM and opposition for their co-operation in his one year tenure of the speakership.
Who will be the new speaker?
There has been a lot of discussion going on in Congress party about the new state president. Now, it has come to a stop. Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan is among the frontrunners for the post.
When the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was formed, his name was being discussed for the post of speaker. At that time, as Delhi high command cast its vote in favour of Patole, Prithviraj Chavan lost the chance.
The guardian minister Aslam Shaikh said that, when the time to take a decision for the post of the speaker will come, MVA leaders sit and decide the name.
No demand for the post of deputy CM from Congress
Shaikh said that senior leaders in Delhi will take a decision about the new assembly speaker. After that, a discussion will be held. He clarified that Congress has not put forward any demand for the post of deputy CM and this news are mere rumours in media.
Sharad Pawar is our senior leader
NCP president Sharad Pawar had stated that as Patole has resigned from the speaker’s post, it is now open to all. Shaikh while reacting to Pawar’s statement, said that Pawar is our senior leader too and he has a right to make such a statement.
The decision about the new speaker will be taken by MVA leaders, he explained.
