In a bold political move, Shiv Sena (UBT) has formally staked its claim for the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post in the Maharashtra Assembly, rejecting any power-sharing arrangement with NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). The party has put forward Bhaskar Jadhav as its candidate for the position, signaling a fresh power struggle within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
A delegation led by Uddhav Thackeray met Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday and submitted a letter demanding the post. However, sources suggest that Shiv Sena (UBT) was hesitant to officially stake its claim unless it received assurances from the ruling BJP, raising speculation about behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
Before meeting the Speaker, Thackeray held discussions with NCP state unit chief Jayant Patil and party leader Jitendra Awhad, notably without any Congress representation. However, Congress leader Nana Patole later clarified that his party had no objections to Shiv Sena’s demand but expressed interest in securing the Leader of Opposition post in the Legislative Council, currently held by Sena leader Ambadas Danve. Shiv Sena (UBT) has yet to respond to this request.
The demand comes amid uncertainty over the rules governing LoP appointments, with the legislature secretariat clarifying that the Speaker holds discretionary powers in the matter. With political equations shifting, all eyes are now on the BJP and Speaker Narwekar, especially as tensions persist between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and its allies. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction appears to be strategically warming up to the BJP-led Mahayuti, adding a fresh twist to the state’s evolving political landscape.
