Mumbai: With no consensus in MVA over the leader of opposition (LOP) post in the assembly, a decision on the bloc’s candidate will be taken at a meeting in Nagpur, said MVA politicians on Wednesday. Sena (UBT) has 20 MLAs, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) 10 in the 288-member House.
The winter session of the state legislature is set to begin in Nagpur on Dec 16. Officials said as per Salaries and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in the State Legislature Act, the main opposition party must have at least 10% of the House strength for an LOP to be appointed. However, CM Devendra Fadnavis has said the Speaker will take a decision on the LOP.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar said he has not received any application for the post so far and he can only make a decision after he gets a formal application.
Newly elected Sena (UBT) legislature party leader Bhaskar Jadhav has written to the state legislature’s principal secretary, Jitendra Bhole, seeking clarification on the exact rules. “There is still time to stake a claim to the LOP post. We have asked the legislature officials under what rules the LOP is elected. We spoke to them, they seemed confused. We believe there is no rule to have a minimum number of MLAs to elect an LOP,” he said.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will be in Nagpur for the session. Congress’s Vijay Waddettiwar said once MVA decides on its candidate in Nagpur, it will make an application before the Speaker.
“MVA will decide [on the candidate] together. The right decision will be taken. Only a demand has been made in this regard. What decision will govt and the Speaker take after the demand? It all depends on that. We will present our stand during the Nagpur session,” said Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve, who is the LOP in the legislative council.
Senior officials have said that for the first time in six decades, there may be no LOP in the assembly owing to the opposition’s inadequate strength.
