Disqualify Convicted Minister: Oppn

Leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), at the meeting of the state legislature's business advisory committee on Sunday, demanded the immediate disqualification of Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, who was sentenced to imprisonment by a Nashik court last week.

- Saurabha Kulshreshtha

MUMBAI:

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who belongs to the ruling BJP, replied that he had not received a certified copy of the court's order and would take a decision only after that as per the rules mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Present at the meeting, which was called to decide on the dates of the budget session, were Narwekar, chairperson of the legislative council Ram Shinde, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, group leaders and the senior leaders of all the parties in the ruling and opposition alliances.

It was decided at the meeting that the budget session of the state legislature would start from March 3, that Ajit Pawar would present the budget on March 10 and that the business of both houses would be conducted till March 26.