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Maharashtra Opposition to boycott Govt’s tea party ahead of winter session, cites LoP post delay

Congress legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleges that the Mahayuti Government is neglecting Vidarbha.

3 min readNagpurUpdated: Dec 7, 2025 04:13 PM IST

From cotton farmer suicides to the Government's refusal to even send a proposal to the Centre for aid to farmers affected by floods in Marathwada, the Opposition listed issues it plans to raise in the session. (File Photo)

Terming it “anti-constitutional”, Maharashtra’s Opposition parties criticised the Mahayuti Government on Sunday over the delay in appointing leaders of the Opposition in the legislature and announced a boycott of a customary tea party to be hosted on the eve of the legislature’s winter session.

“We boycott the tea party called by the ruling Mahayuti Government as it refuses to recognise the constitutional position of the leader of the Opposition. In the 1980s, even though there were not more than 15 Opposition MLAs, the Congress Government allowed the leader of the Opposition post and respected the constitutional process. This Government has no such intention and is hellbent on disrespecting the Constitution,” said Congress legislative party leader Vijay Wadettiwar.

He was addressing a press conference along with leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP).

From cotton farmer suicides to the Government’s refusal to even send a proposal to the Centre for aid to farmers affected by floods in Marathwada, the Opposition listed issues it plans to raise in the session scheduled to start on Monday.

Wadettiwar alleged that the majority of the funds were being spent on Mumbai, Pune, and Thane for 15-20 per cent commission, while Vidarbha was neglected.

“The leaders who had demanded a separate Vidarbha state are now ruling the state. These leaders are neglecting Vidarbha for the rest of Maharashtra. Therefore, questions on Vidarbha’s development should be put to those in power,” said Wadettiwar. He added that he would also speak to the Congress high command on whether the demand for a separate Vidarbha state should be raised again.

Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said his party stood by constitutional values and that the Opposition did not support the “kind of democracy” being practised by the ruling side.

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“LoP posts are lying vacant in both the state Assembly and Council. The Government, with a brutal majority, is scared of the Opposition despite its lower numbers,” he said.

Jadhav alleged that the Government had provided crores of rupees to the legislators of the Mahayuti alliance but nothing to the Opposition MLAs.

“During Congress rule, they had the decency to respect the Opposition and earmark funds for its MLAs. But the Mahayuti Government has no decency. The Government has not sanctioned funds for constituencies held by Opposition parties. Therefore, it is not proper to attend a customary tea meeting with the ruling alliance, which does not have faith in the Constitution and democracy,” he added.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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