Congress Working Committee passes resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition
The extended Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest executive forum of the grand old Indian political party, on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution to appoint senior leader Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House of the Parliament.
In the meeting, Gandhi, who has won from Wayanad and Raebareli, said he will think about the proposal (to become the LoP), leaders familiar with the matter said, adding that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, politely reminded him that since CWC has passed a resolution in this order, he should accept the post, reported Hidustan Times.
Congress President Shri @kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, Shri @RahulGandhi and other senior leaders attended the Extended Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/BEH7hVKtCe
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 8, 2024
“In another resolution, the CWC unanimously requested Rahul Gandhi to take the LoP post in the Lok Sabha. All participants, in their view, were unanimous that Rahul Gandhi should become the LoP,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said after the CWC meeting as quoted by the newspaper.
How Congress performed in recently held Lok Sabha polls?
After a gap of 10 years, the country is set to have an Opposition leader as Congress has won 99 seats, the figure much above than what is required.
Rahul Gandhi has won from both Kerala's Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha polls.
As BJP's tally of seats stopped at 240- 32 short of the majority mark (272)- TDP (16 seats), JDU (12 seats), Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena (7 seats) and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (5 seats) have emerged as the kingmakers.
It is learnt that Naidu and Kumar, who have remained in coalition governments in the past, aim for plum posts in the new central government.
Modi, who has been chosen as the leader of NDA alliance, will take oath as the Prime Minister on June 9.
The INDIA bloc, which performanced better than what was expected, has decided to "wait and watch" after winning 232 seats.