42 Maharashtra legislators off on tour

Legislators of all political parties, including independents, are participating in this Europe-trip.

Forty two Maharashtra legislators, including seven of Shiv Sena, are heading for Europe on a 15-day tour to study parliamentary systems.

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Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who had earlier opposed Sena legislators' inclusion in the tour at the backdrop of "dire financial situation" in the state, has given his go-ahead for the tour, after being persuaded by senior party leaders.

The tour, covering Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, is being organised to study parliamentary practices in these countries and also to give the legislators a first hand experience of the development scenario in Europe.

The legislators, accompanied by two senior state legislature secretariat officials, would leave from Mumbai at tomorrow, a Vidhan Bhawan official told in Mumbai on Tuesday. They would return on October 19.

The legislators would also visit the headquarters of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in London. "The visit would enhance the legislators' awareness about modern parliamentary procedures", the official said.

Legislators of all political parties, including independents, are participating in this Euro-trip.