Mumbai Oct 26 : Senior Shiv Sena legislator Subhash Desai was Monday unanimously elected leader of the party in the assembly by its 44 newly-elected members.

A Thackeray family loyalist, Desai was elected from Goregaon constituency in northwest Mumbai and has been associated with the party for the past three decades in various capacities.

Subject to the outcome of Sena's negotiations with alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Desai may ultimately occupy the post of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Since the BJP secured more (46) seats as compared to Sena's tally, the former is demanding the post of opposition leader.

The Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly, Ramdas Kadam of the Sena, was defeated from Guhagar constituency last week. (IANS)