The Maharashtra government has introduced a new rule that significantly curtails the privileges available to whips of opposition parties in the state legislature. This development comes amid a prolonged period where the legislative assembly has functioned without an officially recognized Leader of the Opposition.
New Rules for Legislative Whips
On Wednesday, the state administration issued a consolidated Government Resolution (GR) that standardizes the status, facilities, and honorarium for chief whips and whips representing political parties. The key stipulation states that opposition parties which hold less than 10% of the total strength of the House will still be permitted to appoint a chief whip and a whip. However, individuals in these roles will no longer receive the state-funded facilities typically entitled to whips.
Political Arithmetic and the Opposition's Plight
The total strength of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is 288 members. The current ruling alliance comprises the BJP with 132 MLAs, Shiv Sena with 57, and the NCP with 41. On the opposition benches, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 members, the Congress has 16, and the NCP (SP) has 10. The remaining seats are occupied by smaller parties and independents, including the SP with 2, JSS with 2, and several parties with one MLA each.
A critical fact emerging from these numbers is that none of the opposition parties individually commands the 10% threshold (which translates to 29 seats) required to retain official facilities for their whips under the new GR.
Persistent Vacancy in a Key Post
Compounding the situation for the opposition is the continued absence of a Leader of the Opposition (LoP). The Speaker of the assembly has not yet acceded to the demand from opposition parties to appoint an LoP. This key parliamentary position has remained vacant for the last three consecutive sessions of the legislature, weakening the institutional framework for constructive opposition.
The combined effect of the new GR and the vacant LoP post presents a challenging scenario for opposition parties in Maharashtra, limiting their operational resources and formal recognition within the legislative process.
