The Lok Sabha is finally getting a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) after ten years. Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party will now lead the opposition in the lower house of Parliament. This decision came after a meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders at Mallikarjun Kharge’s home in Delhi on Tuesday (25 June).
Congress leader KC Venugopal told the media that Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Congress Parliamentary Party, wrote to pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab to formally appoint Rahul Gandhi as the LoP. Other leadership positions will be decided later, Venugopal added.
There was speculation for some time that Rahul Gandhi would take on the LoP role in the 18th Lok Sabha because Congress has the most seats among opposition parties with 99 seats. Earlier in June, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) unanimously passed a resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to become the Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has an important job. According to the rules, the LoP leads the largest opposition party or coalition and is recognized by the Speaker. It’s like being a “shadow Prime Minister,” overseeing opposition activities and making sure the government is held accountable.
Rahul Gandhi’s appointment is significant because it shows Congress is serious about addressing issues like unemployment, inflation, women’s rights, and social justice in Parliament. His role also includes being part of important committees and helping choose key officials in government bodies.
The LoP position was empty for ten years because no opposition party had enough seats (55 seats or 10% of the total) to claim it after the 2014 and 2019 elections. But now, with Congress having 52 seats and increasing its strength, it qualifies for the LoP position.
Rahul Gandhi taking on the LoP role means Congress is ready to challenge the ruling BJP-led NDA government on important issues, showing they’re ready to lead the opposition in Parliament.