Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 8: The Congress party on Monday officially staked its claim to the vacant Leader of Opposition (LoP) post in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, initiating a round of high-level consultations within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

A Congress delegation, including Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, former minister Balasaheb Thorat, and Deputy Leader Amin Patel, met with Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the LoP vacancy, upcoming local body elections, and future political strategies. Wadettiwar confirmed the Congress has the largest number of legislators in the Council, but stressed the importance of internal alliance discussions before any decision is finalised.

The delegation later met Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde to press for their claim to the LoP post. Senior Congress leader and ex-minister Satej Patil is widely seen as the party's top choice for the position. The Council LoP post has remained vacant since Shiv Sena-UBT’s Ambadas Danve completed his term last month.

In parallel, Congress is also eyeing the vacant LoP position in the Legislative Assembly. Wadettiwar stated that his party plans to meet Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss both vacancies.

Sources within the MVA indicated that Shiv Sena-UBT has proposed Bhaskar Jadhav for the Assembly LoP post, but Speaker Narwekar has yet to act on the recommendation. A prior proposal to swap the Rajya Sabha and Assembly LoP positions between Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT reportedly stalled without progress.

As discussions with other alliance leaders, including NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, are underway, the Congress is expected to continue pushing for Satej Patil’s elevation to the Legislative Council LoP post as part of a broader MVA power-sharing strategy.