The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly recently showcased the state's remarkable linguistic diversity as newly-elected members took their oaths in various languages, including Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, and Sindhi.
This event took place during the first day of a special three-day session of the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. With 200 legislators in attendance, the oath-taking ceremony was a symbol of unity amidst the state's diverse culture and linguistic heritage.
On the first day, 173 members took their oaths. Among them were several prominent figures, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and several former ministers such as Chhagan Bhujbal, Girish Mahajan, and Hasan Mushrif.
It was also the moment for some new faces, such as Shrijaya Chavan, daughter of former CM Ashok Chavan, and Sana Malik, daughter of former minister Nawab Malik, who were sworn in for the first time.
Interestingly, the newly-elected members took their oaths in several languages to reflect the multilingual nature of the state. Seven members of the BJP, including Girish Mahajan, Seema Hire, and Nitesh Rane, chose to take their oaths in Sanskrit.
Mahajan, in particular, marked his seventh oath-taking in this classical language. Samajwadi Party's Abu Azmi opted for Hindi, while Mufti Mohammad Khalique from AIMIM chose to take the oath in Urdu. Additionally, BJP's Kumar Ailani took his oath in Sindhi.
The proceedings were presided over by protem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar, who also announced the panel of presiding officers, including Chainsukh Sancheti, Jaikumar Rawal, Manikrao Kokate, and Ashish Jaiswal.
Most members took the oath in the name of God or Allah, while a few, including Ajit Pawar, solemnly affirmed their allegiance to the Constitution of India. The atmosphere was charged with slogans of "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai," "Jai Shriram," and "Vande Mataram" raised by the MahaYuti legislators.
The special session had a unique cultural touch, with the MahaYuti legislators—led by Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar—garlanding the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a significant gesture symbolising respect and unity. In addition to these moments, the session was marked by some political drama.
The opposition parties, particularly from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), chose to protest the election results and the administration's decision concerning the Markadwadi mock polling incident by abstaining from the oath-taking ceremony.
Prominent MVA leaders, including Congress’s Vijay Wadettiwar and Nana Patole, as well as Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena-UBT, walked out in protest.
Ajit Pawar, while addressing the protest, criticised the MVA's approach, stating that they had to take the oath if they wanted to participate in the legislative proceedings.
He dismissed the protests against the EVMs (electronic voting machines) as an attempt by the opposition to make their presence felt. He pointed out that when the MVA coalition had won seats in the Lok Sabha elections, they had no complaints about the EVMs, but after their defeat in the Assembly elections, the blame had shifted towards the machines.
Chhagan Bhujbal, a veteran NCP leader, also addressed the situation, stating that the MVA legislators would have no choice but to take the oath if they wished to take part in the sessions.
He pointed out that, in his decades-long experience, he had never witnessed such a scenario, where members would refuse to take the oath and thus delay their participation in the legislative process.
The first day's proceedings ended with the adjournment of the House, with plans to reconvene the next day for the remaining oath-taking ceremonies. This session not only marked a significant political moment but also reflected the diversity and vibrant democratic culture of Maharashtra.
Follow us
