With NCP leader Ajit Pawar named the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Maharashtra assembly, Shiv Sena is set to take claim to the LoP’s post in the Legislative Council. Shiv Sena, which has 13 members in the legislative council, has said it has the most seats among opposition parties and so LoP in the council must be from Shiv Sena.

However, a senior Sena functionary said the NCP was keen on also bagging the LoP’s post in the legislative council, saying they had more experienced leaders like Eknath Khadse to take on BJP. Shiv Sena is likely to send its name for the LoP’s post to legislative counsel chairperson before the monsoon session of the state legislature later this month.

“We are not in the government and Sena has the highest members in the council among opposition parties. We have 13 members and support of one Independent. The NCP has 10 members and support of one Independent. So Shiv Sena will stake claim and party president Uddhav Thackeray will send the letter about this to the chairperson of the legislative council,” Sena MLC Sachin Ahir said.

While close to 40 Sena MLAs have joined chief minister Eknath Shinde’s camp, most of the MLCs are still with the Uddhav camp. Another Sena functionary said that Ahir and former minister Anil Parab were among the front runners for the LoP’s post in the legislative council.

While a section of the party is pushing for a new face as LoP, senior leaders said the party must only reward long-time loyalists at this crucial time when the party has faced its biggest rebellion ever.

“NCP seems to be keen on taking the LoP’s post in the council too. But for Sena this is going to be a very important post since this will be its only voice left to take on the new government since the LoP in the assembly is from NCP,” a Sena functionary said.

“It will be a unique situation, where a faction of the Shiv Sena is in the government led by Eknath Shinde in the lower house and the other faction led by Uddhav Thakceray is the opposition party in the upper house. The LoP’s post is very important since it has the cabinet rank and many other privileges in the house. It is usually seen as an important post to attack the government in the legislature,” the functionary said.

The legislative council has 78 members in all.

(With inputs from agencies)