Rahul Gandhi appointed as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha

Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha for the next five years. Know all about the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha in this article.

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Context: Rahul Gandhi will be the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. This will be the first time in 10 years that the Lok Sabha will have a Leader of Opposition.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha leads the largest non-governmental party, representing opposition viewpoints. Historically significant, the role ensures diverse perspectives in parliamentary debates and holds the government accountable. Not a constitutional post, its recognition began in 1969, solidified by the 1977 Act. Currently, Rahul Gandhi holds the position. The upcoming 18th Lok Sabha marks a resurgence of this role after a ten-year absence, alongside potential election hopes for a deputy speaker.

Important Facts about Leader of Opposition

The leader of the largest opposition party with at least one-tenth of the total strength of the Lok Sabha is recognized as the Leader of the Opposition.
The LOP is a member of crucial committees such as Public Accounts (Chairman), Public Undertakings, Estimates, and several Joint Parliamentary Committees.
The LOP is a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, Central Information Commission, CBI, NHRC, and Lokpal.
The LOP provides constructive criticism of government policies and offers an alternative government.
The position was accorded statutory recognition under the Salaries and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
The LOP is entitled to salary, allowances, and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
The office of the Leader of the Opposition is not mentioned in the Constitution.

Historical Significance of the Leader of the Opposition

The position of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha holds historical importance, with its roots tracing back to 1969 when Ram Subhag Singh was first recognized as the LoP. The formal recognition of this role was established by “The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.” This act defines the term ‘Leader of the Opposition’ and outlines the process for its recognition.

Key Historical Milestones

1969: Ram Subhag Singh becomes the first officially recognized Leader of the Opposition.
1977: The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act is enacted, providing formal recognition and benefits for the LoP.
1980-1989 and 2014-2024: Periods without an LoP due to the absence of a qualifying opposition party.

List of Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha

No.	Leader	Constituency	Tenure	Lok Sabha	Prime Minister	Party
1	Ram Subhag Singh	Buxar	17 Dec 1969 – 27 Dec 1970	4th	Indira Gandhi	Indian National Congress
2	Yashwantrao Chavan	Satara	1 Jul 1977 – 11 Apr 1978	6th	Morarji Desai	Indian National Congress
3	C. M. Stephen	Idukki	12 Apr 1978 – 9 Jul 1979	6th	Charan Singh	Indian National Congress
4	Jagjivan Ram	Sasaram	29 Jul 1979 – 22 Aug 1979	7th	Charan Singh	Janata Party
5	Rajiv Gandhi	Amethi	18 Dec 1989 – 23 Dec 1990	9th	V. P. Singh	Indian National Congress
6	L. K. Advani	New Delhi	24 Dec 1990 – 13 Mar 1991	10th	Chandra Shekhar	Bharatiya Janata Party
		Gandhinagar	21 Jun 1991 – 26 Jul 1993	10th	P. V. Narasimha Rao	Bharatiya Janata Party
7	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Lucknow	21 Jul 1993 – 10 May 1996	11th	P. V. Narasimha Rao	Bharatiya Janata Party
8	P. V. Narasimha Rao	Berhampur	16 May 1996 – 31 May 1996	12th	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Indian National Congress
		Lucknow	1 Jun 1996 – 4 Dec 1997	12th	Deve Gowda	Bharatiya Janata Party
9	Sharad Pawar	Baramati	19 Mar 1998 – 26 Apr 1999	12th	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Indian National Congress
10	Sonia Gandhi	Amethi	31 Oct 1999 – 6 Feb 2004	13th	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Indian National Congress
11	L. K. Advani	Gandhinagar	21 May 2004 – 18 May 2009	14th	Manmohan Singh	Bharatiya Janata Party
12	Sushma Swaraj	Vidisha	21 Dec 2009 – 19 May 2014	15th	Narendra Modi	Bharatiya Janata Party
			30 May 2019 – 9 Jun 2024	17th	Narendra Modi	Bharatiya Janata Party
13	Rahul Gandhi	Rae Bareli	9 Jun 2024 – Present	18th	Narendra Modi	Indian National Congress

Role and Responsibility of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha holds a crucial role in India’s parliamentary democracy, serving as the voice of the opposition within the lower house of Parliament. Their primary responsibilities include:

Representation: Leads the largest non-governmental party in Lok Sabha, articulating opposition viewpoints.
Alternative Perspective: Provides alternative policies and critiques government proposals.
Accountability: Holds the government accountable by questioning decisions and actions.
Debates: Leads opposition bench in parliamentary debates on legislative matters.
Strategy: Coordinates opposition efforts, strategizing with other party leaders.
Committee Participation: Represents opposition in parliamentary committees for oversight.
Public Engagement: Acts as a spokesperson, communicating opposition stance to the public.
Legislative Facilitation: Plays a role in passing legislation while safeguarding democratic principles.