Sena-BJP members submit no confidence motion against Chairman

Mumbai, Aug 1 (UNI) Angered by the alleged bias of Legislative Council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh towards the Opposition, a group of 17 legislators of both the BJP and Shiv Sena, led by Leader of the Opposition Pandurang Phundkar and Madhukarrao Sarpotdar, today submitted a no confidence motion against him.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari told UNI that after staging a walk out from the House for denying the poll on the bill, the legislators apporached legislature secretary Anant Kalse with a 'no confidence' motion against Mr Deshmukh.

Mr Gadkri alleged that time and again Mr Deshmukh behaved in a ''biased'' manner with the Opposition.

The issue began during the discussion on the bill of doubling the property tax for the FSI violators.

Sena MLC Diwakar Raote moved an amendment that the bill should be sent to the joint select committee.

The opposition members demanded a vote over the amendment and 17 votes of the Opposition went in favour of amendment, while 18 members, including chairman and deputy chairman, voted against the same.

Later, Mr Deshmukh tabled the original bill for votes to which again the Opposition demanded a vote. On this occasion, Mr Deshmukh said since the poll was held on amendment, now he would conduct the same and went ahed with the bill, which was passed.

This irked the opposition members, who entered the well shouting slogans and later staged a walk out.

UNI