AMN / MUMBAI
Maharashtra Congress MLA Nana Patole has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Earlier this morning, BJP candidate Kisan Kathore withdrew his nomination for the post. The deadline to withdraw the nomination was 10 am today.
The Congress yesterday announced Patole as the candidate of the ruling Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance for the post. The BJP named Kathore as its nominee.
Patole represents Sakoli Assembly segment in Vidarbha. Kathore is from Murbad in Thane district. This is the fourth term as an MLA for both.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government passed the floor test in the state Assembly yesterday.
Altogether, 169 MLAs voted in favour of the motion of confidence after the BJP, which has 105 MLAs, staged a walkout before the head count began in the 288-member House.