Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
After 10 years, the Lok Sabha will have a Leader of the Opposition (LoP) as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assumes the role. The Congress, despite being the second-largest party in the Lok Sabha in 2014 and 2019, could not claim the position as it had less than 10 percent of the total seats in the Lower House.
An opposition party needs at least 55 seats to claim the post of Leader of the Opposition in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
In the 2014 general election, the Congress lost both its ruling status and the LoP position, managing to get 44 seats. The Congress’s request for the LoP post was denied by the then Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
In 2019, the Congress won 52 seats, again falling short of required numbers to reclaim the LoP post. Now, with an improved performance in the 2024 election by winning 99 seats, the Congress has claimed the role of the principal opposition in the country.
Despite not being a constitutional post, the Leader of the Opposition role will give certain powers to Rahul Gandhi, including in the appointment of bureaucrats to key posts.
WHO IS THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION?
The Leader of the Opposition is a statutory position recognised by the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. This act defines the term Leader of the Opposition as the member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha who leads the party in opposition to the government with the greatest numerical strength.
The position of Leader of the Opposition has its roots in the pre-Independence era. Notable leaders like Motilal Nehru were among the early figures to receive statutory recognition and rewards. This early recognition laid the groundwork for the formal establishment of the post in the Indian parliamentary system.
After Independence, the LoP continued to play a crucial role in the country’s parliamentary democracy. The first Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was Dr. Ram Subhag Singh, who served from 1969 to 1971.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION?
The Leader of the Opposition plays a crucial role in parliamentary proceedings, providing necessary checks and balances on the ruling government. They ensure that diverse perspectives are considered and alternative viewpoints are represented.
The Leader of the Opposition is often referred to as the “shadow prime minister” and forms a shadow Cabinet, which is a group of opposition members who mirror the roles of the government’s Cabinet. This shadow Cabinet is prepared to take over the government if the incumbent government falls.
ROLE IN SELECT COMMITTEES
As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi will have a say in the appointment of key bureaucrats. He will be a member of crucial committees, including Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, Estimates, several Joint Parliamentary Committees, and so on.
He is also entitled to be a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the National Human Rights Commission of India, and the Lokpal, among others.
In the absence of a recognised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the largest opposition party’s leader is inducted into the selection committee as per the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
THIRD GANDHI TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF LoP
Rahul Gandhi is the third member of the Gandhi family to hold the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Before him, his parents, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, held the posts.
In 1989-90, Rajiv Gandhi became the first member of the Gandhi family to hold the post of LoP in the Lok Sabha. In 1999-2004, Sonia Gandhi held the post of LoP.
