Wrangling between Congress and NCP over portfolio allocation is delaying first session of the 12th Assembly but this has not dampened the spirits of the first-timers.
Almost half the legislators in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly would be making their maiden foray in the House and are raring to participate in the proceedings.
Altogether 143 newly-elected members have won the Assembly polls for the first time, a Vidhan Bhawan official told PTI. The highest - 33 -- are from Congress. The list includes 29-Shiv Sena, 22 each from NCP and BJP, 12-MNS, four SP and 16-Independents.
Wrangling between Congress and NCP over portfolio allocation is delaying first session of the 12th Assembly but this has not dampened the spirits of the first-timers who are all set to enter the House and debate on issues of public interest.
Twenty six-year-old Omraje Nimbalkar, Shiv Sena MLA and son of slain Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, is among the youngest new members and is excited to attend the House proceedings. Omraje was elected from Osmanabad defeating his cousin and minister of state Rana Jagjitsinh Patil.
"I am excited to participate in the House proceedings but am not bogged down by the pressures of legislative proceedings," Omraje told PTI. Omraje said he has even started studying the rules and regulations of the House and is readying himself to raise developmental issues of the constituency in the House.
BJP's Madhuri Misal, a former corporator from Pune is curious to "know the House proceedings and would like to be part of it." Misal is also aware of the responsibilities given by the party and expectations from the people.
"I know my responsibilities, as the party has won Parvati constituency after 10 years and therefore there is this bit of pressure due to people's expectations," she said. NCP's low-profile candidate Milind Kamble, who was elected from Kurla in suburban Mumbai is happy to be part of the House work.
"I am happy that I have been elected by the people to raise their issues and do not feel pressured," Kamble said. He is also trying to understand rules and regulations of the House from his senior party leaders.
Of the 13 MNS MLAs, 12 are first-timers in the House. Bala Nandgaonkar has been an MLA while Shishir Shinde has been member of the Council. The MNS MLAs are raring to go and are confident of working as the "main" Opposition party by voicing people's issues.
Shiv Sena has 44 MLAs in the 12th Assembly but MNS is confident of outshining the Sena legislators, MNS general secretary Nitin Sardesai said. "So far, Opposition parties never lived up to their role in legislature and we are sure of filling that vacuum," Sardesai, MLA from Mahim constituency in central Mumbai, said.
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