Oppn pushes for leader of opposition post as Chief Justice of India visits Maharashtra Legislature in Mumbai | Mumbai News

Mumbai: With the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai visiting the Maharashtra Legislature on Tuesday, the Opposition used the opportunity to push its demand for the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post, which has lain vacant since the Mahayuti govt’s landslide victory in Nov 2024.With state assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar refusing to name an LoP or give a date for the decision, the Opposition boycotted assembly proceedings for an hour. In the assembly, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav raised the issue. “We have kept raising the issue of the LoP’s appointment. When will you make a decision? The chair of LoP will be vacant in front of the CJI. We will have to tell him how democracy has been murdered in the state.” Jadhav is the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominee for the LoP post.He pointed out that the AAP govt in Delhi gave the LoP post to the BJP when it had only three MLAs. Narwekar responded: “The decision on appointing an LoP is mine alone. I will make a decision soon after considering all the laws and precedents. As you know, once I make a decision, I don’t have to change it.”NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil asked, “When will the decision come? So many assembly sessions have gone by.” Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar added, “Is it appropriate for the CJI to see an empty chair in the LoP’s place?”Defending Narwekar, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “You cannot expect the Speaker to take a decision right now. Everyone knows the Speaker is neutral.”Brandishing the programme for the CJI’s felicitation, Jadhav said, “See how it looks with no LoP mentioned.” In response, Narwekar said, “The first assembly session of the new govt was in Dec 2024. The letter requesting an LoP came from the Opposition only in April. So if I took 2.5 months, there is nothing wrong.”Earlier in the day, Opposition leaders demonstrated outside the assembly against govt for not appointing an LoP. “Chief Justice – please give us justice!” they shouted.After Gavai’s felicitation in the council hall, MVA leaders, comprising Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and Ambadas Danve from Sena (UBT), Nana Patole and Vijay Wadettitwar from Congress, and NCP (SP)’s Jitendra Awhad had an informal meeting with the CJI and submitted a letter informing him that even after three sessions of the state legislature, there is no LoP, which is gross violation of the Constitution.“We brought to the notice of the CJI how the LoP has not been appointed, though all the legal positions were brought to the notice of the Speaker,” Patole said. “Both posts of the chief minister and LoP are constitutional…we expect that provisions of the Constitution will be followed judiciously and an LoP will be appointed as early as possible.”