Maharashtra: LoP issue remains unresolved, opposition whips may not get state-funded facilities; new govt order issued

MUMBAI: Even as the Maharashtra legislative assembly has not had a leader of the opposition for the last three sessions, the whips of opposition parties may now lose the facilities provided to them under a new govt resolution (GR).A consolidated GR issued on Wednesday standardised the status, facilities and honorarium of chief whips and whips of political parties in the state legislature.The GR stated opposition parties with less than 10% of the total House strength would be able to appoint a chief whip and a whip, but these persons would not get the state-funded facilities which whips are entitled to.The Speaker, meanwhile, has not yet accepted opposition parties’ demand to appoint a leader of opposition.The strength of the state assembly is 288. Of the ruling combine, the BJP has 132 MLAs, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41. Of the opposition parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 members, Congress 16 and NCP (SP) 10. Smaller parties and independents account for remaining seats, including SP (2), JSS (2) and several parties with one MLA each. None of the opposition parties has 10% of House strength.