NAGPUR: The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra suspended 11 MLAs of the Shiv Sena and BJP on Wednesday evening in an apparent angry response to the Opposition's notice of "no-confidence" against the Government and Speaker Babasaheb Kuppekar.

Minister of Legislative Affairs Harshwardhan Patil moved the suspension motion against the legislators, which the House passed unanimously. The members stand suspended till December 15.

The MLAs were suspended for staging a mock funeral in the House on Tuesday to highlight the issue of farmers' suicides in the State.

Suspension motion

Mr. Patil had moved the suspension motion on Tuesday amidst several technical objections raised by the Opposition and the ruling benches.

The Speaker, who did not put it to vote, said he had not admitted it and indicated that one must not take such an extreme view. The Chief Minister had said that the matter was over and urged the Opposition to commence the discussion on farmers' suicides.

Sena, BJP taken aback

The Shiv Sena-BJP leaders were taken aback by the Government's counter-move.

"We will move the court to seek justice," declared BJP group leader Gopinath Munde.

Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam said the Government was playing the politics of revenge.

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