Maharashtra: Congress-NCP tug of war continues, Dhananjay Munde set to be Opposition leader

While the tug of war continues between the Congress and NCP over the post of Leader of Opposition (LoO) in the state assembly, it is certain that Dhananjay Munde will be the LoO in the legislative council (Upper House).

NCP legislature party leader Ajit Pawar and state unit president Sunil Tatkare confirmed that the party has submitted a letter about Munde's candidature. NCP enjoys majority in the Upper House and Munde's election remains a mere formality.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that in terms of MLAs, the Congress has 42 and NCP has 41 in the legislative assembly, the NCP has decided to make claim for the post of LoO.

Both Tatkare and Pawar put forward the logic that Peasants and Workers Party leader Ganpatrao Patil, as well as Bahujan Vikas Parishad led by Hitendra Thakur, are giving support to NCP in writing. With that, Pawar and Tatkare claimed that NCP's strength in the House becomes 46 and that was the reason NCP's claim for LoO is legitimate.

Meanwhile, Congress state unit president Manikrao Thakare said that his party, on the basis of sheer numbers, should get the post of LoO in state assembly. A senior minister in the BJP-Sena cabinet said that the election to the post of LoO for both the Houses would be held in a day or two.

A leader from Sena observed that NCP has been reduced to the smallest party in the assembly and they should accept the verdict by the people of Maharashtra. He also said that if the case arises, Sena would openly back Congress for the post of LoO in assembly, at the appropriate time.