Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced on Tuesday. The decision was made following a meeting with opposition party floor leaders and was formally communicated to the Pro-tem Speaker by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Gandhi’s appointment marks a significant return to a prominent political role after a brief hiatus. He previously served as the LoP from 2014 until the Congress failed to secure the necessary 10% of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The appointment comes as the Congress emerged as a strong force in the recent Lok Sabha elections, winning 99 seats. As LoP, Gandhi will be a member of key panels responsible for appointing officials such as the Lokpal, CBI chief, and Chief Election Commissioner. He will also play a vital role in shaping the direction of the opposition’s strategy in Parliament.
Several leaders from the opposition bloc expressed their support for Gandhi’s appointment, highlighting his influential voice and his commitment to representing the needs of the people. The Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, had previously passed a resolution advocating for Gandhi’s appointment as LoP.
Gandhi’s political career began in 2004 when he won his first Lok Sabha election from Amethi, a seat previously held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi. He currently represents Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha and holds a strong connection to the Nehru-Gandhi family dynasty.
