In Maharashtra, a fresh round of political tension has erupted inside the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after reports emerged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has floated names for the long-vacant Leader of Opposition (LoP) posts in both Houses of the state legislature. The move, senior alliance figures say, has sparked unease and confusion within the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its partners.

According to political insiders, the BJP has informally indicated support for Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar as LoP in the Legislative Assembly and for Anil Parab from Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Legislative Council. But the proposed arrangement has immediately collided with conflicting preferences inside the MVA.

Sources say Shiv Sena (UBT) is pushing Bhaskar Jadhav for the Assembly post, while the Congress is backing Satej Patil for the Council. This divergence has opened cracks within the opposition bloc at a delicate political moment.

Internal Rift Deepens in Uddhav Camp

Within the Thackeray-led party, several senior legislators are reportedly unhappy with the idea of promoting Bhaskar Jadhav. Key leaders are said to prefer that Anil Parab handle the Council role or that Aaditya Thackeray take charge in the Assembly, giving the party a stronger face in the House.

The internal disagreements have left Bhaskar Jadhav visibly upset, and sources claim he has begun quietly mobilising support among party MLAs. Some even allege he has reached out to BJP figures—claims that Shinde camp leaders have asked the BJP not to entertain.

Aaditya Thackeray, meanwhile, dismissed the swirling reports as “rumours,” accusing the ruling alliance of deliberately spreading disinformation to destabilise the opposition.

No Official LoP Due to Seat Count—But Opposition Cites Precedent

Both the Assembly and the Council currently lack an officially recognized Leader of Opposition. None of the MVA parties individually secured 10% of the Assembly’s 288 seats, the traditional benchmark required for the post. However, opposition leaders argue that the 10% rule is not a constitutional requirement in Maharashtra, pointing to past examples where LoP positions were allocated despite lower numbers.