Maharashtra: Fight for LoP starts between Cong & NCP

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe on Sunday said that the picture is not yet clear as to which party will appoint a Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly as the NCP, who had their Leader of Opposition earlier, no longer has the most number of MLAs.

The Congress and NCP seem to be in a fight to appoint the Leader of the Opposition after Congress Spokesperson Atul Londhe said that it is yet to be decided who would be the new LoP in Maharashtra.

"Full picture is not yet clear. Why the LoP was from NCP? Because they had more MLAs. But now, Congress has 45 MLAs with them. And as Ajit Pawar has claimed that he has 40 MLAs with him, then NCP will have only 13 MLAs left with them. The picture would be clear in two to three days," Atul Londhe said while speaking to ANI. "All of us will fight in the assembly and then we will have the clarity on the Leader of Opposition," he added.

"We (Congress) don't even need to claim anything, this is the fixed formula and I don't think anyone has any objection to it," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said affirmatively.

The Congress Spokesperson said very clearly that the party with most Members of the Legislative Assembly gets to appoint the Leader of the Opposition and it is a formula to which no one can have any objection.

He said that it is an accepted formula, hence, Congress doesn't even have to claim anything. Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil on Sunday said that Jitendra Awhad's name has been sent as the chief whip. A letter has been sent on behalf of the NCP to the speaker of the Assembly.

"We have sent Jitendra Awhad's name as chief whip, and have sent a letter on behalf of the NCP party to the speaker of the assembly," NCP leader Jayant Patil said while addressing the media on Sunday.

Hours after Ajit Pawar and some other Nationalist Congress Party leaders joined the Maharashtra government, party chief Sharad Pawar said, "this is not 'googly', it is a robbery" and that he was worried about the future of those who left the party.

Talking to reporters after his nephew and eight other party leaders rebelled and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra, Pawar said he was not worried about what happened and will work to strengthen the party again.

He also hinted at action against party leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, saying they did not follow their responsibilities. Sharad Pawar said some of those who joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government were facing ED cases.

Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP leaders took oath as ministers.