Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde resigns from Leader of Opposition's post

Mumbai, Dec 5: Nearly a month after staking claim to the Leader of Opposition's (LoP) post in the Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Friday resigned from the post. Shinde, who is likely get a position in the state cabinet at the swearing-in ceremony today, submitted his resignation letter to the Principal Secretary of Vidhan Bhavan Anant Kalse.

Cornered by the BJP, and Congress eying the space of the principal opposition party in the Assembly, Shiv Sena was on November 10 forced to stake claim for the LoP's post in the newly elected 288-member House.

The party, which won 63 seats after calling off its 25-year-old alliance with BJP in Maharashtra just a few days ahead of Assembly polls, was left with no option after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) reiterated its stand to support the BJP-led government.

Shinde, after assuming the post of LoP, toured the drought-hit regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha along with other Sena MLAs and demanded a relief package for the farmers from the state government.

"The state government should sanction an interim relief of Rs 10,000 per acre to farmers hit by drought in the affected regions. Though the government provides aid to family of farmers who commit suicide, instead they should give an interim relief to curb incidents of farmer suicides," Shinde had said.

Post his two days tour, Shinde, along with Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray had called on Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and invited him to visit drought-hit Marathwada along with Sena MLAs.

PTI