New Delhi/Bhopal, June 25: Biting the bullet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will occupy the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a letter about the decision has been sent to Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab by the Congress party.
The decision on Rahul Gandhi’s appointment as the Leader of Opposition was announced soon after a meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence.
AICC general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal told the media that CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi has written to the Pro-tem Speaker about the decision of the Congress party.
“Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) wrote to Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, informing him of the decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha,” Venugopal told reporters after the meeting. He said the decision on other appointments will be decided later.
The floor leaders of opposition INDIA bloc had got together at the Congress chief’s residence to discuss the Speaker’s election and sources said they were informed about the “good news”.
With this decision, Rahul Gandhi finally bites the bullet in taking up this role, as he would now get the status of a cabinet minister’s rank. This will also enhance his position in the protocol list and could be a natural claimant to the post of prime minister of the opposition bloc.
This will be the first constitutional position that Rahul Gandhi would hold in his long political career of over two-and-a-half decades.
Gandhi as the LoP of Lok Sabha would also be a member of important panels on key appointments of Lokpal, CBI chief, Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, besides the selection of Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission and the NHRC chief. The prime minister heads all such panels.
Kharge hailed the decision, saying in the 18th Lok Sabha, the House of the People shall truly reflect the aspirations of the last person standing, with Rahul Gandhi becoming their voice.
“As Congress President, I am confident that a leader who has traversed the length and breadth of the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and from Manipur to Maharashtra shall raise the voice of the people – especially the marginalised and the poor,” he said in a post on X.
Several leaders lauded and thanked Rahul Gandhi for accepting the position and hoped he would remain the voice of people in Parliament by raising their issues.
MPs take oath
Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, Hema Malini, Asaduddin Owaisi and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi were among the prominent members to be sworn in on the second day of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha.
As many as 535 members took oath on Monday and Tuesday with seven yet to complete the process. (PTI)
