Cong, NCP fight for LoP posts in M'rashtra

The BJP-Shiv Sena government has clearly emerged stronger with a divided Opposition fighting over the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post in both Houses of Maharashtra legislature.

The post of LoP became vacant after Shiv Sena joined the government. Until and unless the Congress and the NCP which were partners for 15 years before they parted ways ahead of Vidhan Sabha elections reach a common ground, the issue would not be resolved.

The Congress has a strength of 42 MLAs while NCP has 41 in the 288-member Assembly. And in the 78-member Council, the NCP has a strength of 28 and Congress 21.

In both Houses, there is no LoP and the issue has become more complex now. “Attempts to resolve the issue is underway, but till the time they agree on certain issues, the matter would not be resolved,” sources said.

In the three-day special session in November, 5 Congress MLAs were suspended for heckling Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao – dropping their floor strength to 37. NCP legislator Jitendra Avhad was also suspended for aggressively protesting inside the House – but his suspension was revoked.