Congress Appoints Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition, Informs Pro-tem Speaker
New Delhi, 26th June 2024: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been named the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha, as announced by the party following a meeting of floor leaders from the INDIA bloc on Tuesday.
“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,” stated senior party leader KC Venugopal to reporters after the meeting.
He mentioned that decisions on other appointments would be made later. The announcement came after the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc gathered at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Previously, the Congress Working Committee had unanimously recommended Gandhi to lead the opposition in the Lok Sabha shortly after the election results. At that time, Gandhi had said he would decide on the matter later.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Congress emerged as the largest party within the INDIA bloc, securing 99 seats. A party needs at least 55 members to claim the LoP position.
Rahul Gandhi’s appointment comes as the INDIA bloc faces its first challenge to the PM Modi-led NDA government in the Lok Sabha with the election for the Speaker position. The NDA has once again nominated Om Birla, while the INDIA bloc has nominated K Suresh. The voting for the post will take place at 11 am on Wednesday.
