01 November,2009 10:12 AM IST | | PTI
Almost half the legislators in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly would be making their maiden foray in the House.
As many as 143 newly-elected members have won the Assembly polls for the first time, a Vidhan Bhawan official said.
The Congress topped the list with 33 first-time MLAs, followed by Shiv Sena (29), NCP and BJP (22 each), MNS (12), SP (4) 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.
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According to Shiv Sena MLA Omraje Nimbalkar, 26, he is "excited to participate in the House proceedings". Omraje was elected from Osmanabad defeating his cousin and minister of state Rana Jagjitsinh Patil. The son of slain Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar 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." "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 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.
The first-time MLAs in MNS are also confident of working as the 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.
