Who will lead the opposition in Maharashtra?

Mumbai: While it is almost certain that the next Maharashtra CM will be from the BJP, the role of the main Opposition party depends on the possible permutations and combinations of the next government.

If the BJP forms a post-poll alliance with Shiv Sena, the post of opposition leader will come to the Congress.

However, if the BJP accepts NCP’s offer of outside support, Shiv Sena will become the main opposition party by virtue of being the second largest party.

Anant Kalse, principal secretary of the state legislature said, “A party needs to have minimum 29 seats, which is more than 10 per cent of the house strength, to claim the post of the leader of opposition. The largest opposition party will get the post. If a party gives even outside support to the government, it cannot stake claim for the post.”

Shiv Sena with 63 seats and Congress with 42 seats qualify for the post.

In case, Shiv Sena joins the BJP in the government, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan may emerge as the front-runner for the leader of Opposition’s post, which is considered second most important position in the Assembly after the CM.

Two of Mr Chavan's competitors Narayan Rane and Harshwardhan Patil have lost the election. Other contenders from the Congress include Balasaheb Thorat, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Patangrao Kadam.

However, state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis has said that his party would consider NCP’s offer of the outside support. In that case, Shiv Sena will become the main opposition party.