The Maharashtra budget session has barely begun, and already the opposition is up in arms. Prominent Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has branded the Mahayuti government’s decision to proceed without appointing Leaders of Opposition in both houses as a ‘joke on democracy.’
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Monday, Raut didn’t hold back against CM Devendra Fadnavis. He labeled the move a blatant disregard for parliamentary norms, insisting that the opposition leader is indispensable for ensuring government accountability.
‘Without this position, the assembly becomes a rubber stamp,’ Raut asserted. He recalled how opposition demands for the post have been repeatedly stonewalled with flimsy excuses. This, he said, marks a dangerous erosion of democratic institutions, potentially leading to unchecked power.
Raut drew parallels to national legislatures like Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, where the role is sacrosanct. ‘Maharashtra is witnessing history’s first budget session with vacant opposition leader posts in both chambers,’ he noted, calling it a stain on the state’s political legacy.
The MP vowed aggressive action, from courtroom battles to street campaigns, to force the government’s hand. ‘If they have the numbers, why fear a formal opposition voice?’ he challenged. Raut accused the ruling alliance of deliberately weakening oversight mechanisms to evade tough questions.
With tensions simmering, lawmakers from the ruling side remained tight-lipped, but insiders hint at ongoing negotiations. Raut’s broadside underscores deepening rifts in Maharashtra politics, promising fireworks throughout the session as fiscal policies come under the spotlight.