NEW DELHI: The BJP Friday claimed that the opposition INDIA bloc was mulling to make the Leader of Opposition‘s post in the Lok Sabha rotational. “If the INDIA bloc feels that Rahul Gandhi is not able to handle this responsibility with full dedication, they will have to make that decision,” BJP’s Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj said.
Suggesting that there are many leaders in the opposition parties who are “capable” of handling the work of the LoP, the Delhi MP, however, said the onus is on the opposition to make that call as it is a “internal matter”.The claim by the BJP comes as the Congress party has come under intense scrutiny from its allies in the bloc after the poll debacle in Haryana, where BJP defied the exit polls to emerge victorious for the third straight time.
However, the claim has not been confirmed by the opposition parties so far. It is usually that only an MP from the single largest party in the opposition with at least 10 per cent seats can be appointed as the LoP. Rahul Gandhi was appointed as the LoP in the Lok Sabha with the Congress party emerging as the single largest opposition party in the House after the Lok Sabha results.
The BJP MP made these remarks in response to questions regarding discussions about opposition parties potentially rotating the LoP position in the Lok Sabha.
“Yes, absolutely. I have also heard that there is talk of making the post of Leader of Opposition rotational. But I would politely say that this is an internal matter of the opposition,” Swaraj told a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi.
“Yes, there are definitely many leaders in the opposition parties who are quite capable of fulfilling the responsibility of the Leader of Opposition. If the INDI Alliance feels that Rahul Gandhi is not able to fulfill his responsibility with complete dedication, they should take such a decision,” she added.
When asked whether the LoP’s post could be made rotational, former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary explained that only a MP from the single largest opposition party in the House can be appointed as the Leader of Opposition, according to news agency PTI.
The person whom the single largest opposition party wants to be appointed as the LoP is chosen by it only, he said.
“Neither the government nor the Speaker have any role to play in it,” Acharya was quoted as telling news agency PTI.