CWC passes resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
On Saturday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s top decision-making body, voted a resolution appointing Rahul Gandhi as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
During the party’s extended CWC meeting, the newly elected lawmakers unanimously demanded that Rahul Gandhi become the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
“CWC unanimously requested Rahul Gandhi to take the position of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha. Rahul ji is the best person to lead this campaign inside the Parliament,” KC Venugopal told a press conference after the meeting.
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Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi stated that he wanted time to consider his options before making a decision.
Congress didn’t have any Leaders of Opposition in 2014 and 2019
This will be the first time the Congress has held the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha since losing power in 2014. It has failed to secure the post in the last ten years because its tally fell short of the required 10% of total House seats in both 2014 and 2019.
Top Congress leaders bat for Rahul to become Leader of Opposition
Several top Congress leaders, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the party’s Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, have endorsed Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
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“We want Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in the Parliament. Rahul Gandhi said to us today that we should win the hearts of people who did not vote for us,” said DK Shivakumar.
Shashi Tharoor referred to Rahul Gandhi as the “man of the match” in the Lok Sabha elections, stating that the role should be held by the party’s most popular leader.
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“Rahul Gandhi and Congress President (Mallikarjun) Kharge campaigned extensively around the country, but Mr Kharge is in the Rajya Sabha, where he leads the Opposition, and it is only natural that Rahul Gandhi do the same in the Lok Sabha. I have absolutely stated my perspective in this regard, both publicly and personally,” Tharoor said.
The Congress Working Committee met to analyze the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections and determine next steps. It happened a day after the NDA had a massive meeting to elect its Parliamentary Party leader, Narendra Modi.
