NCP not to field nominee for Maha Speaker's post

NCP will not field its candidate for the post of Speaker of the new Maharashtra Legislative Assembly slated for Wednesday, the day the newly-installed BJP government seeks a vote of confidence.
"My party has no plans to contest the post (of Speaker). However, we would take a decision on whom to vote for after seeing who the candidates are," NCP chief Sharad Pawar told reporters.
NCP, with 41 MLAs in its kitty, has already announced outside support to the BJP government during the trust vote. He said the decision was prompted by the need to avoid fresh elections but made it clear that NCP will play the role of an effective Opposition.

Interestingly, former ally Congress said it would consider supporting NCP candidate for the Speaker's post if it put up one.
"If NCP puts up a candidate, we will consider supporting him," state Congress President Manikrao Thakre said.
BJP with 121 MLAs is likely to nominate Aurangabad MLA Haribhau Bagde for the post.
Sena, with 63 MLAs, today decided to sit in opposition and staked claim for the post of Leader of Opposition by virtue of being the second largest party in the Assembly.