Rahul Gandhi To Be Leader Of Opposition,

Taking the fight to the ruling BJP-led NDA, Rahul Gandhi has accepted the decision made by the Congress Working Committee and will assume the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This announcement on Tuesday precedes the first major battle of the 18th Lok Sabha, pitting a resurgent opposition against a weakened ruling coalition in the contest for the post of Speaker.

The Congress and the INDIA bloc, after being denied assurance that an opposition member would be appointed Deputy Speaker as per tradition, have decided to challenge the ruling coalition by nominating K Suresh against the BJP’s candidate, Om Birla, the previous Lok Sabha Speaker, in a last-minute bid for the Speaker’s post.

“Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has written to Pro-Tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab to inform him of the decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.. Other office bearers will be determined at a later stage,” stated senior party leader KC Venugopal.

This marks a significant step for Rahul Gandhi, as it will be his first constitutional role despite his tenure in Parliament since 2004. Although reports suggested he was urged to take a Cabinet position between 2004 and 2014 during the UPA government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he declined the offer.

Having served as Congress president from 2017 until his resignation after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where he took responsibility for the party’s poor performance, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in his new role.

He emphasized his commitment to amplifying the voices of the marginalized and the poor, stating, “The Congress party is firmly dedicated to upholding Democracy and the Constitution, by championing “Its enduring principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity,” as reiterated by Kharge.

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This appointment is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first time in a decade that the Lok Sabha will have a Leader of the Opposition. Despite being the largest opposition party in the previous two Lok Sabha terms, the Congress did not meet the required numbers, which is one-tenth of the House’s strength.

In the 16th Lok Sabha, the Congress party had 44 MPs, which increased to 55 in the 17th Lok Sabha. Remarkably, in the current term, the Congress party proudly holds 99 MPs, the largest count among all opposition parties.

As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi will hold a constitutional position for the first time since entering politics in 2004 when he was first elected from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. This elevation will grant him the status of a cabinet minister,

enhancing his position in the protocol list and potentially positioning him as a natural contender for the prime ministerial role within the opposition bloc. Additionally, as the LoP of Lok Sabha, Gandhi will be a member of crucial panels overseeing key appointments such as Lokpal, CBI chief, Chief Election Commissioner, and other Election Commissioners, as well as the selection of the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, and the NHRC chief.

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These panels are chaired by the prime minister. Historically, parliamentary elections for the speaker position have been rare in India’s post-independence era, with the last contested election occurring in 1998.