MVA stages walkout over delay in Leader of Opposition appointment

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (July 8, 2025), protesting the continued delay in appointing the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). The protest coincided with a felicitation programme for Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai in the legislature.

Following the walkout, leaders of the MVA alliance – comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) – raised slogans outside the Vidhan Bhavan complex, accusing the Mahayuti government of “oppressing democracy”.

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar once again raised the issue in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session. “It is improper and not in line with the traditions and practices of the legislature to keep the position of LoP vacant,” Mr. Wadettiwar, who had earlier served as LoP following Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s resignation from the post, said.

“Several times, the MVA wrote a letter to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to appoint the LoP. However, no decision was taken,” Mr. Jadhav said inside the House. “Don’t bring that time on us that we have to raise the issue in front of the CJI and tell him how the government is choking democracy,” he added. Mr. Jadhav has been formally recommended by his party for the LoP position.

This marks the second occasion that the MVA has formally raised the issue during the Monsoon Session. They had raised the issue once before during the Budget Session. In response, Mr. Narwekar reiterated, “Keeping the law and all the provisions in mind, we will soon make the decision.”

Despite the Mahayuti government being in power for over seven months, the appointment of the LoP remains pending.

Earlier, during the Budget session, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had questioned the eligibility of the Opposition to claim the LoP post, arguing that they did not have the required numbers. According to the Assembly rules, a party must have at least 10% of the total House strength – i.e., 28 out of 288 MLAs – to be eligible. In the 2024 Assembly elections, Shiv Sena(UBT) secured 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP(SP) 10.

Worli Legislator and former Minister Aaditya Thackeray questioned, “Why is the Mahayuti government, having a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly, scared of the Opposition to the extent that they can’t give the position of LoP? We gave a letter to the CJI in the hope that this issue would be resolved.”

“Mahayuti is scared, as every day we are highlighting their corruption and scams, be it in planning or finances,” Mr. Thackeray added.