Donning the role of LoP
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 28, 2024 -

IT'S a given that a strong and effective opposition which could ensure checks and balances is essential for a democratic government to thrive.

In the absence of an effective opposition, even a popularly elected government could become dictatorial and pass legislations which favour only a select group of people.

So, it was a significant moment for the Indian democracy when Indian National Congress (INC) leader Rahul Gandhi made his first appearance in the Parliament in his new role as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The post of LoP in the lower house of Indian Parliament has been lying vacant since 2014 as no opposition party had won 10 per cent or 55 Of the 543 seats that are said to be required for claiming the post.

But the INC secured 99 seats in the recent election to the 18th Lok Sabha and thus, announced appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the LoP on Tuesday, after a meeting with its INDIA bloc partners. Of course, whether there is any such rule for claiming a statutory post like the LoP is still debatable.

Experts have pointed out that the post is defined in the Salaries and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 as simply the leader of the numerically biggest party in opposition to the government and recognised as such by the speaker/chairman.

And, therefore, recognising a member of the house as leader of opposition is not a political or arithmetical decision, but a statutory decision and the speaker has to merely ascertain whether the party claiming the post is the largest party in the opposition or not.

But the INC, which had only 44 members in the Lok Sabha in 2014 and 52 members in 2019, was too weak to assert its right despite being the largest party in the opposition, and the condition of commanding 10 per cent or 55 of the 543 seats to claim the post of LoP somehow came in vogue.

While this incident has shown how a numerically stronger political party in power could misinterpret the laws to suit their own interest in the absence of a strong and effective opposition, the significance of INC leader Rahul Gandhi taking on the role of LoP in the Lok Sabha after the post had been lying vacant for a decade should go beyond the cheering and chest-thumping over the possibility of heralding a positive change in the Indian democracy, which, undoubtedly, had seen serious setback mainly due to the overriding nature of the ruling party and its leaders.

Passing of some key bills including ones meant to replace the existing criminal laws with no debate after 143 opposition members were suspended for protesting against a security breach in the Parliament are some of the examples that could be cited.

But more than anything else, this is going to be a real test of Rahul Gandhi's leadership. Since entering politics in 2004, he had never held any constitutional post nor won a general election for his party.

He may have served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for five terms, but his image of a non-serious politician, who is hesitant from taking responsibility is what his political rivals have been able to imprint in the mind of the people.

So, Rahul Gandhi needs to show seriousness and prove his mettle as a reliable leader not only for his own party but also for the entire opposition alliance.

Moreover, as the LoP in the Lok Sabha, he will now have to be part of high-profile committees headed by the Prime Minister which are responsible for appointing key posts such as the director of the country's top crime investigation agency and members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

This is where his political acumen would count.

But most importantly, whether Rahul Gandhi would be able to act as a counterbalance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has always belittled and called him 'Shehzada', is what everyone needs to watch out for.