Title: No Leader of Opposition Expected for 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly

Mumbai, [Date] - In a surprise development, it appears that the newly elected 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly may not have a Leader of Opposition (LoP), as neither Shiv Sena(UBT) nor Congress are likely to secure the necessary 29 seats required under the legislative rules.

The Legislative Assembly has set a threshold of 10 per cent of its total strength or 29 seats for a party to claim the post. Currently, with Shiv Sena(UBT) leading in 20 seats, Congress lagging at 19, and NCP(SP) trailing behind with just 12 seats, neither rival party is poised to stake claim over the coveted position.

This marks a rare instance since the inception of Maharashtra's Legislative Assembly in 1960, where none of the opposition parties will be able to secure the post. It would significantly embarrass the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition comprising Shiv Sena(UBT), Congress, and NCP(SP).

A similar scenario can be drawn from the 16th Lok Sabha, which lacked a Leader of Opposition due to no single party crossing the 10 per cent threshold of total strength or securing at least 55 seats. In that instance, the largest opposition party was the Congress with 44 lawmakers.

In fact, the absence of a Leader of the Opposition is not unprecedented in Indian politics. During Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure and later his son Rajiv Gandhi's, when the Congress held an unmatched majority in the Lok Sabha, the Leadership of the Opposition remained scarce.

As the opposition parties continue to face an uncertain future with no clarity on who will occupy the vacant seat next to the deputy speaker in the front row, the future appears bleak for those vying for this prestigious position.

(Disclaimer: The news article is based on information available up to December 2023 and is subject to change.)