The Shiv Sena is in a fix after it failed to wrest the Leader of the Opposition post in the Legislative Council from the BJP. Though they are not keen on antagonising their ally,the Sena leaders are awaiting a copy of the order of council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh to decide on their next course of action. I was asking for a clarification over the appointment. We will decide what to do after we get a copy of the order. There are compulsions within the alliance which cannot be ignored, said Sena MLC Diwakar Raote. The Sena,which held the Leader of the Opposition post in the Assembly in the previous government,had lost the post to the BJP after the latter won more seats in the polls. With the appointment of BJP leader Pandurang Phundkar as Leader of Opposition in the Council,the BJP now leads the Opposition in both the Houses. The Sena has nine members against the BJPs eight in the council. However,the BJP won the post with the support of three Independents. The Sena leaders had staged a walkout from the House after Deshmukh decided to retain Pandurang Phundkar as the Leader of Opposition on Friday. In his explanation,Deshmukh said the BJP was a national party and it also had the support of Independents. The Leader of the Opposition post in the Assembly had gone to the BJP after it won 46 seats against the Senas 44 in the elections.
