Mumbai, June 24: Senior Indian National Congress (INC) Leader Vijay Wadettiwar is appointed as the new leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Wadettiwar replaced the former congressman and LoP Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who recently switched to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was inducted into the Devendra Fadnavis ministry on June 16. Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion: 13 New Ministers, Including Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Take Oath.

Notably, Wadettiwar, who hails from the Vidharbha region's Gadchiroli-Chandrapur area, would be the third LoP in the 13th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Last week, the grand old party approved the appointment of Wadettiwar as the leader of Congress in the House, Naseem Khan as the deputy leader and Balasaheb Thorat as the leader of Congress legislature party. Congress Turning into a Divided House Due to Infighting Among Leaders.

Vijay Wadettiwar, who currently represents Brahmapuri constituency, had served as a minister in Congress-NCP Democratic Front government. On the eve of the monsoon session, a few names were discussed in the opposition parties and there was consensus on the name of Wadettiwar.

Later, "All Opposition parties have on Sunday submitted a formal letter to Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade, proposing Wadettiwar as the new Leader of Opposition," Congress Deputy Party Leader Naseem Khan told IANS.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2019 01:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).