Two Days After Split In Ally NCP, Congress Calls Meeting To Discuss Demand For Leader Of Opposition

Just two days after a split in ally NCP, Maharashtra Congress convened a meeting of its legislators on Tuesday (4 July) where the issue of staking a claim to the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly is likely to be discussed.

Currently, Jitendra Awhad of NCP is serving as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly after he was appointed in place of Ajit Pawar, who spearheaded the split by joining the Maharashtra government.

Balasaheb Thorat, a senior Maharashtra Congress leader was quoted saying to news agency ANI that, "Leader of the Opposition will be from the party which has the maximum number of MLAs. We (NCP, Congress and Uddhav Thackeray faction) will fight together against BJP. Congress will get a good number of seats in 2024 Lok Sabha. MVA is together and the people of the state are with us."

On Monday (3 July), NCP supremo Sharad Pawar reportedly commented that the demand by Congress to appoint their own Leader of Opposition is a valid one.

While speaking to reporters he said, "The party which has the maximum number of MLAs can demand the LoP post. As per my information, Congress has the maximum number currently and if they ask for it then it's a valid demand."