Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council

The Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council presides over the proceedings of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. The chairman is elected internally by the Maharashtra Legislative Council.^[1] The deputy chairman presides in his absence.

Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
सभापती, महाराष्ट्र विधानपरिषद
Seal of the state of Maharashtra
Incumbent Ram Shinde since 19 December 2024
Maharashtra Legislative Council
Style	The Hon’ble (formal) Mr./ Mrs. Chairman (informal)
Member of	Maharashtra Legislative Council
Residence	Mumbai
Seat	Maharashtra Legislature
Appointer	Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
Term length	During the life of the vidhan Sabha (five years maximum)
Constituting instrument	Article 93 of the Constitution of India
Precursor	Chairman of The Bombay Legislative Council (1947-60)
Inaugural holder	Vitthal Sakharam (11 July 1960 - 24 April 1978)
Formation	1 May 1960
Deputy	Neelam Gorhe Deputy Chairman
Salary	₹ - approximately
Website	-

Eligibility

The chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council:

1. Must be a citizen of India;
2. Must not be less than 25 years of age; and
3. Should not hold any office of profit under the Government of Maharashtra.

Chairmen

The Maharashtra Legislative Council is headed by a chairperson, elected by members in a simple majority vote. The following is the list of chairpersons of the council.^[2]

°	Denotes acting chairperson

#	Portrait	Name	Tenure			Party
Pre-Independence Bombay Legislative Council (1937–47)
1		Mangal Das Pakvasa	22 July 1937	16 August 1947	10 years, 25 days	Indian National Congress
Post-Independence Bombay Legislative Council (1947–60)
2		Ramchandra Soman	18 August 1947	5 May 1952	4 years, 261 days	Indian National Congress
3		Ramarao Srinivasrao Hukkerikar	5 May 1952	20 November 1956	4 years, 199 days
4		Bhogilal Dhirajlal Lala	21 November 1956	10 July 1960	3 years, 232 days
Maharashtra Legislative Council (born 1960)
1		Vitthal Sakharam Page	11 July 1960	24 April 1978	17 years, 287 days	Indian National Congress
°		Ram Meghe	13 June 1978	15 June 1978	2 days
2		R. S. Gavai	15 June 1978	22 September 1982	4 years, 99 days	Republican Party of India
3		Jayant Shridhar Tilak	23 September 1982	7 July 1998	15 years, 287 days	Indian National Congress
°		Bhaurao Tulshiram Deshmukh	20 July 1998	24 July 1998	4 days	Bharatiya Janata Party
4		N. S. Pharande	24 July 1998	7 July 2004	5 years, 349 days
°		Vasant Davkhare	9 July 2004	13 August 2004	35 days	Nationalist Congress Party
5		Shivajirao Deshmukh	13 August 2004	16 March 2015	10 years, 215 days	Indian National Congress
6		Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar	20 March 2015	7 July 2016	7 years, 109 days	Nationalist Congress Party
			8 July 2016	7 July 2022
°		Neelam Gorhe	7 July 2022	19 December 2024	2 years, 165 days	Shiv Sena
7		Ram Shinde	19 December 2024	Incumbent	231 days	Bharatiya Janata Party

Deputy Chairman

№	Portrait	Name	Term of office			Chairmen of the House	Party
°		Manikrao Thakre	5 August 2016	19 July 2018	1 year, 348 days	Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar	Indian National Congress
°		Neelam Gorhe	24 June 2019	24 April 2020	305 days	Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar	Shiv Sena
			8 September 2020	Incumbent	4 years, 333 days	Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar Herself (acting) Ram Shinde

See also

• List of governors of Maharashtra
• List of chief ministers of Maharashtra
• List of deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra
• List of speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of deputy speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of leaders of the house in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of leaders of the house in the Maharashtra Legislative Council
• List of deputy leaders of the House in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of deputy leaders of the House in the Maharashtra Legislative Council
• List of leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council
• List of deputy leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
• List of deputy leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council