Leader of the Opposition in the 16th Lok Sabha

Deadlock over the post of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha continues with the Congress adamant over its claim and ruling BJP in no mood grant the favour to the opposition party.

The ministry of personnel on Friday July 11,2014 sought the opinion of the law ministry and the Lok Sabha secretariat as to who was the LoP in the new House.

After Congress chief Sonia Gandhi claimed the post on the opening day of the Budget session on July 7,2014 the party on Wednesday made a formal representation before Lok Sabha Speaker Suimtra Mahajan by submitted a letter signed by 60 party members including its allies

The NDA Government has hardened its stance, citing rulings by former Speakers and pointing out that there were no formally designated LoPs under Congress governments in the past. "We have no problem over LoP, but, that is the prerogative of Speaker. Only she has to decide," Parliamentary affairs minister M.Venkaiah Naidu said.

The Congress is even prepared to move the court if the post is denied, said party sources.The party claim stems from the fact that Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, clearly mentions that the single largest party in the Opposition should get the post of the LoP. 

The Congress has also argued that the Leader of the Opposition has become important over the past decades because the LoP has a role in the panel which clears appointments to constitutional posts like CVC, CBI, NHRC and Lokpal.

"These are crucial appointments and should not be done in the absence of an LoP," Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia said