Rahul Gandhi will be the leader of the opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha.
The Lower House will have an official LoP again after a 10-year break since 2014.
The announcement was made by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal. Rahul Gandhi is a MP from Raebareli.
Since no opposition party held the necessary minimum of 10% of the total Lok Sabha seats, the position of LoP had remained empty for the previous ten years.
The leader of the largest opposition party having more than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the Lok Sabha is recognised as the leader of the Opposition.
He will serve on various committees such as Public Accounts (Chairman), Public Undertakings, Estimates and several Joint Parliamentary Committees.
He has the right to serve on a number of selection committees that choose the heads of statutory organisations such as the NHRC, the Lokpal, the CBI, the Central Vigilance Commission, and the Central Information Commission.
The Salaries and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 granted statutory status to the leader of opposition in each of the Houses.
They are eligible to benefits such as a cabinet minister’s salary, allowances, and other benefits.
The Constitution makes no mention of the office of the leader of the opposition.
