Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Assembly session on Tuesday after Speaker Rahul Narwekar failed to provide a clear timeline for the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition. The walkout was followed by a protest on the staircase of the Vidhan Bhavan.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has proposed senior leader Bhaskar Jadhav for the position. However, a decision on the appointment continues to be delayed, drawing criticism from the opposition. Jadhav raised the issue shortly after the House passed a congratulatory motion for Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai, who recently assumed office.
Responding to the protest, Speaker Narwekar said the Shiv Sena (UBT) took over three months to submit a formal request for Jadhav’s appointment, and therefore, it was acceptable for him to take time to decide.
“It took three-and-a-half months to submit a letter to me for the appointment of Leader of the Opposition. It doesn't matter if it takes two-and-a-half months to make a decision,” Narwekar stated during the session. He reminded the House that the current legislative assembly was formed on November 24, 2024, and its first session convened on December 7.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP, secured a sweeping victory in the 2024 state assembly elections. Meanwhile, the combined opposition strength, including the Shiv Sena (UBT), stands at nearly 50 seats in the 288-member assembly.
