Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday, 9 April, decided to recommend Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's name for being nominated as member of the state Legislative Council from the Governor's quota.
Thackeray, who is currently not a member of either of the Houses of state Legislature, was not present at the Cabinet meeting where the decision was taken.
At present, there are two vacancies in the Legislative Council from the Governor's quota after MLCs Rahul Narvekar and Ram Wadkute quit the NCP to join the BJP before the Assembly polls in October last year. The term of these two vacant seats is till mid-June.
Maharashtra Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab told PTI that the decision to recommend Thackeray's name as MLC from the Governor's quota was taken at the state Cabinet meeting.
"Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has been requested to appoint Uddhav Thackeray from one of the two vacant seats," he said.
Postponed Elections Had Created a Problem for Thackeray
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at the state secretariat. Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik told reporters that Thackeray had been advised not to attend the meeting, since the Cabinet was to recommend his name to the governor for appointment as MLC.
Article 164 (4) of the Constitution states that a minister, who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a minister.
The six-month period in Thackeray's case ends on 28 May as he was sworn as chief minister on 28 November last year.
Nine Legislative Council seats from the MLAs' quota are falling vacant on 24 April, and Thackeray was set to be elected as an MLC during the biennial elections as one of the candidate.
But, in view of the coronavirus outbreak and the national lockdown, the Election Commission has deferred the polls.
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