Maharashtra Governor assigns six time BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar as pro-tem speaker. He will be required to administer oaths of the elected MLAs before a permanent speaker can be elected.
Kalidas Kolambkar was said to be the front-runner among those who are likely to be considered for post of Pro tem Speaker. A former Congress leader, and an another eight-time MLA, he won from the Wadala Assembly seat in the elections held last month. He is considered a close confidante of senior BJP leader Narayan Rane.
He emerged as the frontrunner in the race, as although there are no set rules for appointment of a Pro tem Speaker, by tradition, the senior-most member is given the responsibility. Earlier, Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat — also an eight-time-MLA — was also considered to be in the race, but now he has been appointed the legislative party leader of the Congress. Hence, it is unlikely that he will be named Pro tem Speaker.
This is because, one of the key responsibilities of the Pro tem Speaker is to determine who is a party’s leader in the House and whether or not they hold the right to issue a whip to their MLAs. With Thorat taking up the latter role, it is unlikely that he will be given the responsibility to conduct the floor test.
Earlier, Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Maharashtra floor test before 5 pm tomorrow, November 27. Justices Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna presided to deliver judgment on on the Maharashtra floor-test. NV Ramana, the senior-most member of the three-judge bench, read out the orders stating that the proceedings of Maharashtra floor test will be conducted via open ballot by pro-tem Speaker.
