Uddhav Thackeray Sena to claim Leader of Opposition post

Mumbai: Though falling short in numbers after humiliating defeat in the 2024 Maharashtra polls, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will stake claim for the post of the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly during the ensuring Budget Session, which commences on Monday.

For claiming the post of Leader of Opposition, a party needs to have 10 per cent seats.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, 10 per cent is 28.8 (or 29 seats).

None of the three opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi allies - Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP) commands 10 per cent of the seats, individually.

The Leader of Opposition’s post cannot be secured based on the combined strength of opposition parties, as per the Constitution, parliamentary and legislative norms.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, Thackeray’s principal allies' Congress has 16 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) 10. The Samajwadi Party claimed two seats, while the CPI (M) and PWP got one seat each. The AIMIM, which was not part of either of the alliance, got one seat.

In back to back meetings chaired by Thackeray this week, the leaders and law-makers endorsed the need to claim the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs have authorised Thackeray to name the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

Much would, however, depend on what Speaker Rahul Narwekar decides.

Recently, on three occasions, the Shiv Sena (UBT) showered praise on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Commenting on the matter, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, who is a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, said that party MLAs have unanimously supported the move.

After the poll results were out, the party unanimously elected Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray as the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislature party leader.

Seven-time legislator Bhaskar Jadhav was made the Shiv Sena group leader in the Legislative Assembly.

Thackeray family confidante Sunil Prabhu was retained as Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Whip. "Uddhav ji will soon make an official announcement. In our meeting, our MLAs clearly expressed that the party should assert its claim," Danve said on Friday.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the AICC approved the appointment of four-time MLA Amin Patel as the Congress party’s Deputy Leader in Legislative Assembly, while former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son Amit Deshmukh would be the Chief Whip. While Vishwajeet Kadam would be the Secretary and Shirishkumar Naik and Sanjay Meshram would be Whips.

In the Council, the Congress nominated Satej alias Bunty Patil as the Group Leader, while Abhijit Vanjari would be Chief Whip and Rajesh Rathod would be the Whip. The appointment follows a couple of weeks after the AICC announced Harshawardhan Sapkal as Maharashtra Congress President in place of Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettiwar as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

As far as NCP (SP) is concerned, Jitendra Awhad was appointed Group Leader in November.