Congress resolution pushes for Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition
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The Congress Working Committee (CWC) that convened today passed a resolution to nominate Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha.
Party leaders advocated for Rahul Gandhi to assume the role, and the decision now hinges on Gandhi's contemplation, though Congress Leader K C Venugopal stated that the CWC "unanimously requested" Gandhi to take up the mantle.
In the meeting, held a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third-term swearing-in ceremony, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the 2024 Lok Sabha election outcomes. He emphasized that the electorate had delivered a "befitting reply to dictatorial forces" by reaffirming their trust in the Congress party. The meeting was attended by key figures including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other senior leaders.
Following the CWC session, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring supported Rahul Gandhi's potential as LoP. He asserted, "We all have appealed to Rahul Gandhi to become the LoP. He is the only person who can face the Prime Minister. And when Rahul Gandhi stands up, the youth of the country will feel safe."
Warring, who recently won the Ludhiana constituency, also defended the Congress's decision against forming an alliance with the AAP in Punjab, affirming its correctness.
The CWC resolution commended Rahul Gandhi's instrumental role in the election campaign, highlighting his Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra initiatives.
"Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has to be singled out largely because of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that he designed and led. Both these Yatras, reflecting his thinking and personality, were historic turning points in our nation's politics and instilled hope and confidence in lakhs of our workers and crores of our voters," read the resolution.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, spanning over 4,000 km from September 2022 to January 2023, covered 75 districts and 71 Lok Sabha constituencies across 12 states and two Union territories. The Congress contested 56 of these seats, securing 23 victories. The subsequent yatra, from January to March 2024, traversed 6,713 km and covered 82 constituencies, with Congress winning 17 of the 49 seats it contested.
Kharge noted that the Bharat Jodo Yatra positively impacted the party's performance. "Wherever Bharat Jodo Yatra went, we saw an increase in the vote percentage and number of seats for the Congress party," he stated.
This sentiment was echoed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, who declared, "Definitely he (Rahul Gandhi) should become LoP in Lok Sabha. This was the request of our working committee. He is fearless and courageous."
The LoP plays a crucial role in the Indian parliamentary system. As the head of the largest opposition party, the LoP is integral to various parliamentary committees, including those on Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, and Estimates.
The position also entails membership in selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, Central Information Commission, CBI, NHRC, and the Lokpal.
With the Congress currently holding 100 seats in the Lok Sabha, following support from Independent MP Vishal Patil, the party is well-positioned to secure the LoP post. As per sources, the decision now rests with Rahul Gandhi, who has pledged to "think it over and take a decision."
