Times of Senapati – June 16, 2024

With the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, India is set to have a Leader of the Opposition in the lower house for the first time in a decade. The Congress party has secured enough seats to fill this crucial role, which has been vacant since 2014.

In the past ten years, Congress had fewer than 10 percent of the total Lok Sabha members, preventing them from appointing a Leader of the Opposition. This is not the first time this position has been left unoccupied; it has happened eight times in India’s history.

The position of Leader of the Opposition was not established before Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure. It remained vacant during the first three Lok Sabhas. The country saw its first Leader of the Opposition, Ram Subhag, in the fourth Lok Sabha. This post was also vacant during the fifth, seventh, and eighth Lok Sabhas. In both the 16th Lok Sabha (2014) and the 17th Lok Sabha (2019), the opposition parties failed to elect a Leader of the Opposition. Now, for the first time in the 18th Lok Sabha, the opposition has the opportunity to appoint someone to this position to stand against Narendra Modi’s government.

A Significant Opportunity for Congress After a Decade

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 240 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved an absolute majority with 292 seats. The Congress party won 99 seats, a significant increase from the 52 seats they secured in the 2019 elections. This boost in seats gives Congress the necessary numbers to elect a Leader of the Opposition.

Privileges and Powers of the Leader of the Opposition

• The Leader of the Opposition enjoys a status equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister.
• They receive a salary, allowances, and other benefits similar to those of a Union Minister.
• The role comes with accommodation, a car with a driver, and a personal staff.
• The Leader of the Opposition is a member of key committees, including Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, and Estimates.
• They also participate in various Joint Parliamentary Committees and selection committees that appoint the heads of institutions like the CBI, NHRC, Central Vigilance Commission, and Central Information Commission.
• Additionally, they have the freedom to criticize government policies in Parliament, playing a vital role in the democratic process.

This development marks a significant moment in India’s political landscape, ensuring that the opposition can effectively perform its role in holding the government accountable and representing diverse viewpoints in Parliament.

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