BJP outshines Sena, eyes key assembly post

The BJP, which outperformed alliance partner Shiv Sena in the assembly election, has started dreaming of its old goal — to get the post of the leader of opposition. The party may nominate Eknath Khadse, a fiery leader from Jalgaon, for the post.

The BJP has won 46 seats, whereas the Sena won 44. This tally has given the BJP an opportunity to stake claim on the post of the leader of opposition held by the Shiv Sena for the past 10 years.

The BJP has been eyeing the post for a long time. In the outgoing assembly, Shiv Sena’s tally came down from 62 to 56 after Narayan Rane and some of his supporters quit the party in 2005. At that time, the BJP, which too had 56 members, had unsuccessfully tried to get the office of the leader of opposition.

State BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde said, “Since we have the numbers, it is obvious we will get the post. We [BJP and Sena] will jointly work as a constructive opposition.”
BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari called on Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Thursday afternoon to discuss the election outcome. But the issue of the leader of opposition was “not discussed” in the meeting.

Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “Munde, Gadkari, Manohar Joshi and I were present at the meeting. We accepted defeat, but did not discuss the issue of the leader of opposition.”

After being elected to the Lok Sabha, Munde has already made clear he is more interested in the national politics. He has also indicated that Khadse may lead the BJP in the assembly. Khadse is a Munde loyalist.