Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman's son-in-law becomes Assembly Speaker

Maharashtra on Sunday became only state in country where presiding officers of Legislature are in-laws.

BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar has become new Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly. His far-in-law Ramraje Naik of NCP is chairperson of Legislative Council.

Narvekar (45) is also youngest ever Assembly Speaker in country, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fnavis said.

legislator from Mumbai's Colaba Assembly constituency has been associated with Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party in past.

Narvekar, whose bror Makarand is a corporator from Colaba, was a spokesperson of youth wing of Shiv Sena in early years. He quit that party and joined NCP in 2014.

He h n claimed that inaccessibility of party top brass (re Uddhav Thackeray) prompted him to quit Sena.

Narvekar contested 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Maval, losing to Shrirang Appa Barne of Shiv Sena.

He joined BJP before 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls from Colaba. He won Colaba Assembly seat, defeating Congress' Ashok Jagtap.