Uddhav calls for the appointment of opposition leaders in Maharashtra assembly to strengthen democracy

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Leaders of the Opposition (LoPs) need to be appointed for the upcoming Winter Session of the Maharashtra Assembly, as it has been over a year since the last Assembly election, according to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. He questioned why the government, despite its majority, is hesitant to appoint an LoP, emphasizing that it is a Constitutional position. Thackeray warned that if no LoP is appointed, it would mark the first time a session is held without one, and he suggested that the posts of Deputy Chief Minister should also be abolished if this occurs.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), which holds the most seats among the Opposition with 20 MLAs, has put forward senior lawmaker Bhaskar Jadhav as their nominee for the LoP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Additionally, the Congress party has nominated Satej Patil for the position of LoP in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, following the end of Ambadas Danve’s term in August.

Regarding local body elections, Thackeray called on the Supreme Court to take notice of the issues with the electoral rolls in Maharashtra. He urged the Opposition to request that the court delay local body elections until these discrepancies are addressed. The Supreme Court has mandated that elections for all local bodies in the state must be conducted by January 31, 2026.