LoP issue remains unresolved, Oppn in Maharashtra may not have facilities for whips too

Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) Even as the Maharashtra legislative assembly has not had a leader of opposition for the last three sessions, the whips of opposition parties may now lose the facilities provided to them under a new government resolution.

A consolidated government resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday standardised the status, facilities and honorarium of chief whips and whips of political parties in the state legislature.

The GR stated that opposition parties with less than 10 per cent of the total House strength would be able to appoint a chief whip and a whip, but these persons would not get the state-funded facilities which whips are entitled to.

The Speaker, meanwhile, has not yet accepted opposition parties' demand to appoint a leader of opposition.

The strength of the Maharashtra assembly is 288. Of the ruling combine, the BJP has 132 MLAs, Shiv Sena 57 and the NCP 41.

Of the opposition parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 members, the Congress 16 and NCP (SP) 10. Smaller parties and independents together account for the remaining seats, including Samajwadi Party (2), JSS (2) and several parties with one MLA each.

None of the opposition parties have 10 per cent of the House strength.

The GR issued by the Parliamentary Affairs Department consolidates earlier orders of 2018 and 2021.

While chief whips and whips are accorded the protocol rank of cabinet minister and minister of state, respectively, they are entitled only to a token monthly honorarium and limited facilities during Assembly sessions.

Officials said the facilities would be withdrawn immediately if a party ceases to meet the eligibility criteria.

"This is a typical BJP government behaviour, denying basic decency to opposition parties," said Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant.

"This is not only outrageous but unsurprising as per that party's track record," he added. PTI ND KRK KRK