The Congress on Tuesday received the status of main Opposition party in the Maharashtra Assembly and its nominee was appointed Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the lower House.
Speaker Haribhau Bagde named senior Congress leader Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil as LoP.
For over two weeks, the lower House was functioning without the LoP, after Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde gave up the post when his party joined the Devendra Fadnavis government days before the ongoing winter session of State legislature.
Before making the announcement, the Speaker informed that NCP nominee R.R. Patil had claimed the support of 44 MLAs (NCP’s 41 and SKP’s three) whereas 42 Congress MLAs had backed the candidature of the party nominee.
“But Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil has the support of the highest number of MLAs from one party, so legally the post goes to the Congress,” said the Speaker and asked Mr. Patil to occupy the seat meant for the LoP.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and Ramdas Kadam walked to the chair of Mr. Patil and congratulated him. “We expect constructive opposition from the Congress under the leadership of Mr. Patil,” said the Chief Minister.
Senior NCP leader Jayant Patil also congratulated Mr. Patil on his appointment “on behalf of his party.”
Suspension revoked The Speaker on Tuesday revoked the suspension of five Congress MLAs who were suspended from the Assembly for two years for allegedly heckling Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao last month.
The Speaker’s ruling came after the newly appointed Leader of the Opposition R.K.V. Patil pressed for the revocation.
