Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, was suspended on Tuesday for five days over allegations of misbehaviour in the House. The suspension came after BJP legislator Pravin Darekar accused Danve of using foul language during a session on Monday evening while responding to a discussion about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, which have since been expunged from the Lok Sabha records.
The incident began on Monday when BJP legislator Prasad Lad raised Rahul Gandhi’s comments in the council, seeking a resolution to condemn them. Danve objected, arguing that Gandhi’s comments were irrelevant to the council’s proceedings. This disagreement quickly escalated into a heated argument, during which Danve allegedly used an abusive word. Gandhi had earlier criticised the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of promoting “violence and hate” despite calling themselves Hindus.
When the House reconvened on Tuesday, Darekar demanded a discussion on Danve’s alleged foul language. Neelam Gorhe, the council’s deputy chairperson, requested that the discussion be postponed until after the Question Hour, emphasising the importance of maintaining the legislative council’s decorum, particularly by its leader of the opposition. Gorhe stated that the issue was serious and needed to be resolved after reviewing video footage of the incident and gathering more information.
Reading the suspension order, Gorhe said, “Leader of opposition Ambadas Danve demonstrated indiscipline and used foul and abusive language towards legislator Prasad Lad.” The order further noted that Danve’s behaviour had tarnished the image of the council and, if ignored, could set a harmful precedent. Consequently, the House proposed a five-day suspension and barred Danve from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises during this period.
Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Anil Parab tried to advocate for Danve, requesting that he be allowed to present his side of the story, but this demand was not accepted. In protest, the opposition members staged a walkout, shouting slogans against Gorhe.
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and political rivalries within the Maharashtra legislative council. It also highlights the challenges in maintaining parliamentary decorum and addressing misconduct allegations. As the suspension of a prominent opposition leader like Danve is rare and significant, it has attracted considerable attention and controversy, further polarising the political landscape in Maharashtra.
Reacting to the suspension, Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “Ambadas Danve, being the leader of the opposition, was not allowed to explain his actions. This was a planned action by those in power, and they didn’t even discuss the issue further. As the party chief, on behalf of Ambadas Danve, I tender an apology to all the women of Maharashtra.”
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