Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session: Ex-Speaker Patole suspended for a day

In this screenshot from @MlsComputerAssembly on YouTube, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar (sitting in chair above) is seen with Congress MLA Nana Patole (in white) during the monsoon session at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. Pic/PTI

Former Maharashtra Assembly speaker and sitting Congress MLA Nana Patole was suspended for a day from the Assembly proceedings on Tuesday after he walked up to Speaker Rahul Narwekar's chair and touched the ceremonial mace kept on the dais, triggering uproar in the House.

The incident took place shortly after Question Hour, when Patole raised strong objections to recent remarks made by BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar, who had allegedly insulted farmers by saying they shouldn't criticise the government after receiving benefits from various schemes.

"Modi might be boss for them, not for us," Patole remarked, prompting a loud protest from members of the ruling party. As disruptions intensified, Speaker Rahul Narwekar adjourned the proceedings for five minutes. However, when the session resumed, Patole approached the Speaker's chair and touched the ceremonial mace - a symbolic act considered a breach of Assembly decorum.

Congress MLA Nana Patole during the Monsoon Session at Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai, on July 1. PIC/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Patole's actions, stating, "As a member, he has every right to express himself, but walking up to the Speaker's chair is unacceptable. He should apologise." Despite continued arguments between the ruling and Opposition benches, Speaker Narwekar reminded the House that Patole, being a former Speaker himself, was well aware of the rules.

"I hereby order the suspension of Nana Patole from today's proceedings," he declared. The controversy stemmed from comments made by MLA Babanrao Lonikar at a recent public function, where he suggested that farmers should refrain from criticising the government as they had already received benefits like clothes, shoes, and mobile phones under schemes led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The remarks sparked backlash both from the public and within the BJP. CM Fadnavis had promptly distanced the government from Lonikar's statement, calling it "completely wrong." "No one should make such remarks. PM Modi has always said we are ‘Jan Sevaks.' I, too, believe we are here to serve the people," he had said earlier.

Following his suspension, Patole defended his action while speaking to the media: "Now, in the Maharashtra Assembly, one cannot even speak up for farmers. Anyone doing so faces punishment," he said.