08 December,2025 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said that the state govt is so scared that it does not even want LoP. File Pic/X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday criticised the Devendra Fadnavis government over the issue of appointing a Leader of Opposition (LoP), alleging that the ruling side wants to avoid debate on matters affecting citizens, reported the PTI.
Maharashtra Opposition parties have been demanding the LoP post in both the Assembly and the Council. However, none of them meet the key requirement of holding 10 per cent of the 288 Assembly seats, which is necessary to claim the position. After the Opposition's poor performance in last year's state polls, no party reached this threshold.
Aaditya Thackeray said that the Maharashtra government was "running in fear" and trying to silence Opposition voices.
"The government is so scared that it does not even want to see a Leader of Opposition. People are noticing this fear. Despite getting such a huge majority with the blessings of the Election Commission, if the government still fears the Opposition, what more can one say?" he said, according to the PTI.
He added that the government did not want any topics discussed in the House and did not wish to grant anyone the rights associated with the LoP post, as the Winter Session began in Nagpur.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the decision to appoint the LoP in both Houses lies entirely with their respective presiding officers, and not with the state government.
Aaditya Thackeray also targeted BJP leaders for arriving in Nagpur in private jets, at a time when ordinary passengers were facing major trouble due to large-scale IndiGo flight cancellations across the country.
"Are these leaders paying from their own pockets for private jets, or is it taxpayers' money?" he asked, as per the PTI.
Commenting on the ongoing discussion about âVande Mataram' in Parliament, Thackeray accused the BJP of using national symbols like Vande Mataram, Jai Hind and even Hindutva for election campaigns, only to later impose restrictions.
"If you look at this year's Rajya Sabha handbook, they have restricted the use of âJai Hind' and âVande Mataram' in the House," he claimed, the news agency reported.
He further criticised the BJP government in Goa over the recent nightclub fire that killed 25 people, saying the authorities only act after tragedies occur, while allowing illegal operations through relaxations beforehand.
(with PTI inputs)
