Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari again appeared to be at loggerheads - this time on the issue of election to the post of the Assembly Speaker.
The MVA government has written three letters to the Governor seeking his approval for conducting the Speaker's elections by a voice-vote or show of hands instead of secret ballot.
However, MVA leaders say that there has been no clear response yet from the Governor's side even as the government mulls conducting the polls on Tuesday - the final day of the ongoing week-long Winter Session of the Legislature.
He added that the legislature has the power to amend the rules and accordingly, the rules for conducting the election to the Speaker's post were amended, and the process is on the lines of the Lok Sabha and in other states.
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Patole accused the opposition BJP of pursuing its hidden agenda and creating obstacles for the MVA government by keeping the Governor in the front.
The MVA has sent 3 letters to the Governor - the first one on Friday, following by a second letter handed over by a 3-ministerial delegation, and the third one handed on Monday on the issue.
At the Sunday meeting, Koshyari sought details of the amendments to the legislative rules and assured he would seek more details, take the views of legal experts before conveying his decision by today.
The post has been lying vacant since Feb this year after Patole resigned following his appointment as state party President, and the fort was being held by Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal.
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