NCP, which had declared its outside support to the BJP government in Maharashtra, on Wednesday said it will stake claim for the post of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, currently held by Shiv Sena. It also said it would discuss the "procedure" for claiming the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and also that of its Chairman.
The party's assertion comes amid indications that Sena could joint the Fadnavis government. Sena's Eknath Shinde, the second largest party after BJP with 63 MLAs, is the incumbent opposition leader in the Assembly.
However, NCP's former ally Congress has junked the Sharad Pawar-led party's claim, saying it lacks the required numbers for the post. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik told reporters that his party would formally stake the claim for the post on December 7 on the eve of the Winter Session of the state Legislature in Nagpur. He said it has the requisite number of MLAs, including the allies, and is the right claimant for the post.
"NCP has 41 MLAs, besides it has a pre-poll alliance with Bahujan Vikas Aghadi which won three seats and independent MLA from Badnera in Vidarbha region Ravi Rana. This takes our total in the assembly to 45," Malik said.
The NCP leader said his party would also discuss the "procedure" of claiming the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and also that of its Chairman.
"We are the single largest party in the 78-member Upper House with 28 members and, hence can rightfully claim the post of Leader of Opposition as well as that of Chairman. We are currently discussing how to proceed in this matter," he said.
When contacted, state Congress spokesman Anant Gadgil said, "Our parliamentary system is based on Westminster model in the UK where a Speaker or Chairman is assumed to have been elected for his entire term unless he commits some grave mistake. NCP moving a no-confidence motion would set a wrong precedent."
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