As the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution requesting Rahul Gandhi to become the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, it remains to be seen whether he will accept the role. He will decide soon, as per the party General Secretary K C Venugopal. For donning the hat of LoP, being responsible is a far greater criterion than anything else. The LoP is essentially a Member of Parliament who is the leader in that House of the party in Opposition, having the greatest numerical strength and the requisite 10 per cent of total seats in the House.
As per the mandate of the post, the MP holding the position will be a member of crucial committees, including Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, Estimates, and Joint Parliamentary Committees. The post entitles being a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, CBI, NHRC, Election Commission, the Lokpal and others.
In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas, Congress, despite being the biggest party in the Opposition, failed to get the LoP status as its tally was below the requisite 10 per cent criterion, both in 2014 and 2019. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, Congress, with 52 seats had the maximum number among the Opposition but failed to get the LoP status. At that time also, there was a clamour for Rahul Gandhi to become the party’s leader in Lok Sabha. But he refused and named Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as the leader of the Congress party in the Lower House.
Now, with an improved mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Congress will rightfully claim the position of LoP. The number of 99 is more than enough to get the status and is also something for Rahul Gandhi to show for his sustained fight against the Modi-led BJP government. Congress together with other INDIA bloc partners has been able to stop BJP from achieving the magic figure of 272. This sense of achievement has given the Grand Old Party a new vigour and Rahul Gandhi is being urged by its leaders to take the government head on. The first step towards this is accepting the post of LoP.
Whether Rahul Gandhi accepts the post is something to be watched over. If he agrees to be the LoP, for every customary meeting with a foreign dignitary, he will have to take a briefing from the Ministry of External Affairs. Will he follow the drill? Also, being the LoP, he will have direct communication with the government and the PM. He will have to take rebuttals and make instant replies based on facts. The post requires maturity, calmness, and accuracy in statements. Being LoP for Rahul Gandhi will require high attendance which he has not been able to do in previous sessions.
