New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a BJP leader's petition seeking Leader of Opposition (LoP) status in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde dismissed the petition filed by Prabhakar Tukaram Shinde challenging a judgment of the Bombay High Court which rejected his plea.

Shinde contended that the Congress, despite being in the ruling coalition, continues to enjoy LoP status in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, said that it was an irony that the Congress party was the opposition in the Mumbai corporation council even though it was ruling the state in coalition with the Shiv Sena.

After the 2017 elections to the Mumbai civic body, BJP had emerged as the second largest party, after Shiv Sena. However, BJP declined the status of LoP (as it was in coalition with Shiv Sena then), and therefore, the position went to the Congress party.

Three years later, in February 2020, the BJP raised a demand for LoP status, as the Shiv Sena forged an alliance with Congress to form the 'Maha Vikas Agadi' coalition to govern Maharashtra after the 2019 assembly polls.

Therefore, Shinde had sought the LoP status in the Mumbai in September 2020, which was rejected by the Bombay HC, saying that the Leader of Opposition status cannot be claimed on 'mere change of heart.

UNI SV SB 1618