Explained: Why Maharashtra Governor cut short his address in Assembly, and what next

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What happened?

As soon as Koshyari entered the stage of the Central Hall on Thursday, MVA legislators — from the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress parties — raised slogans in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This was in response to Koshyari talking about Samarth Ramdas being the “guru” of Shivaji. His statements had not gone down well with the ruling allies, who had sought an apology. (Read about the controversy here)

Soon after the slogans were raised, Koshyari urged MVA legislators to let the national anthem be played to commence the session.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was seen waving to the legislators, requesting that they stop the sloganeering.

When Koshyari started reading out his speech after the national anthem, slogans were first raised by the treasury benches in the name of Shivaji Maharaj, and then by the Opposition, seeking the resignation of NCP Minister Nawab Malik, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case.

Koshyari then read only the first and last paragraphs of his speech and walked out.

This left the treasury benches puzzled over the move, not knowing what was happening inside the Central Hall.

MVA leaders shout slogans against Governor Koshyari at Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday. (Express Photo: Ganesh Shirsekar)

What now?

The incident has created uncertainty over the election of the Assembly Speaker, which was to be held during the ongoing session. The post has been vacant for more than a year after Nana Patole resigned in February 2021.

Last month, the state Cabinet had proposed to hold the Speaker’s election on March 9 and communicated the same to the Governor.

“Looking at today’s incident and the aggressive stand adopted by the BJP, it is difficult to say whether the Governor will give his nod,” a source in the government said.

During the winter session, the government and the Governor had engaged in a tussle over holding the election for the Speaker. While the treasury benches had amended the rules for the election through a voice vote instead of the secret ballot, the Governor had said that he was examining the amendments, and didn’t approve the programme for the election which was requested by the MVA government.

What is the tussle between the Governor and MVA government?

Since Koshyari was appointed Governor in 2019, there have been a number of instances where he has locked horns with the government.

Incidentally, the Governor has sent back a Bill to the government — which was mentioned in the Assembly on Thursday — proposing amendments in the Maharashtra Co-operatives Societies Act, 1960, passed by both Houses during the winter session. The Governor has asked the government to “reconsider” the provision of its “power of exempting societies from the provisions of the Act”.

During the winter session, the MVA government had passed a Bill curtailing the powers of the Governor in the appointment of vice-chancellors in the state. The Governor is the chancellor of state universities and appoints vice-chancellors based on the recommendations of a committee.

Last month, Thackeray made a jibe at the Opposition BJP and Koshyari in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovid during a function, saying he didn’t come to Raj Bhavan when he was in the Opposition.

Earlier, the Governor had asked Thackeray whether he had turned “secular” over not opening places of worship during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In February 2021, a row erupted after the MVA government denied permission for Koshyari to use a state government aircraft to attend a function in Mussoorie. Thackeray’s office insisted it had not committed a mistake in the episode, and further stated the Raj Bhavan secretariat should have verified whether the permission was granted before proceeding to board the flight.

Last August, the state Cabinet expressed its displeasure over the Governor inaugurating two hostels in Nanded and holding “review meetings” with district officials. Subsequently, Koshyari had dropped the plan to inaugurate the hostels.

Also, there were differences between Koshyari and Thackeray during the nomination of the CM as a member of the Legislative Council. Thackeray had to finally seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to avoid a constitutional crisis in the state.

Besides, the Governor is yet to approve the 12 names recommended by the Cabinet in November 2020 to be appointed to the Upper House through the Governor’s quota.

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