Maharashtra Assembly: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis elected as Leader of Opposition

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis was on Sunday elected as the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. Speaker Nana Patole made the announcement in the House.

The Maharashtra Speaker said that the BJP is being accorded the status of the opposition party in the Assembly and Fadnavis would be the new Leader of Opposition. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and some ministers greeted Fadnavis, after Patole made the announcement.

Earlier in the day, Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate and Congress MLA Nana Patole was elected as unopposed Speaker Of Maharashtra Assembly as BJP candidate Kisan Kathore withdrew his nomination. The deadline to withdraw the nomination was 10 am on Sunday.

The Congress yesterday announced party MLA Patole as the candidate of the ruling Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance for the election to state Assembly Speaker's post, while the BJP named Kathore as its nominee.

However, the BJP candidate withdrew his nomination today.

Patole represents Sakoli Assembly segment in Vidarbha, while Kathore is from Murbad in Thane district. This is the fourth term as an MLA for both.

"BJP had nominated Kisan Kathore for the post of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker, yesterday. But, after incumbents' request, we have decided to withdraw Kathore's candidature," said Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra BJP President.

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