Mumbai, March 1: Shiv Sena (UBT) senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut announced on Saturday that his party will stake claim to the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Raut argued that historical precedent supports their demand, as the opposition parties have previously held this position without securing the stipulated 10 per cent assembly seat threshold.
Currently, the combined opposition strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly stands at nearly 50 MLAs, with Shiv Sena (UBT) having 20 members, Congress holding 16, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) accounting for 10 seats.
"The Shiv Sena (UBT) will stake claim to the LoP post in the Vidhan Sabha. Even if our MLA count is comparatively less, there is no law or constitutional provision stating the House should function without an LoP," Raut asserted. He expressed hope that Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar would favorably consider their request ahead of the forthcoming budget session, scheduled between March 3 and March 26.
The Congress, an ally within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), previously indicated that if Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed the LoP post in the Assembly, Congress would similarly seek the LoP position in the Legislative Council. Currently, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Ambadas Danve occupies the LoP role in the Legislative Council, but his term as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) concludes in August 2025.
When questioned about Shiv Sena (UBT)'s absence from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Raut drew parallels with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He mentioned that senior party leaders were observing the movements of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, who himself did not attend or take the ceremonial dip in the Ganga.
"I did not see Mohan Bhagwat attending the Maha Kumbh. We were waiting to follow the senior RSS leaders, but none attended. Although we initially had plans, we did not go since the RSS leadership abstained," explained Raut.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leader of the ruling Shiv Sena faction, recently criticized Uddhav Thackeray for not attending the Maha Kumbh, intensifying political tensions between the two Shiv Sena factions.
