Maharashtra: Decision on suspended MLAs may be taken before winter session

The five Congress legislators who were suspended for two years on November 12 for heckling governor C Vidyasagar Rao may get relief in the winter session of the assembly, which will start on December 8 in Nagpur.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told media persons on Saturday, “A committee has been formed to take a call on this.” While Fadnavis didn't elaborate, another senior minster said the decision can be announced on Day 1 of the session.

Virendra Jagtap, Abdul Sattar, Amar Kale, Rahul Bondre and Jaikumar Gore were suspended by speaker Haribhau Bagde for two years when they were protesting against him soon after the floor test, which Fadnavis won by voice vote. They also blocked governor's entry and allegedly pushed him when he tried to enter the Vidhan Bhavan complex to address the joint session of the assembly and council.

If the suspension is revoked, the MLAs will be able to take part in the proceedings, giving major relief to Congress, which is still to recover from its biggest loss in the assembly election. If it's not, the party will have to bear the embarrassment and run the show with 37 members. Sources, however, said they could be given relief a week after proceedings start.