State Assembly Speaker Nana Patole caught the house unawares on Wednesday when he rose to move a resolution — a rare move by the presiding officer — to have the number of other backward class (OBCs) individuals measured in the national census to be held next year.

While a resolution in this regard was ultimately passed in the Assembly, the Speaker's suo-motu initiative resulted in a brief debate, albeit in a cautious manner because the holder of the highest post was using powers vested in him. The ruling parties in Maha Vikas Aghadi, CM Uddhav Thackeray, the Assembly's business advisory committee (of all-party leaders) which decides proceedings of the legislature, the opposition benches and the legislative officials were surprised when the Speaker rose.