Rahul Gandhi Appointed Leader Of Opposition In Lok Sabha: Congress MP KC Venugopal

Rahul Gandhi has been elected as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as announced by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced on Tuesday. This announcement was made during a press briefing after a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi. KC Venugopal stated, "CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote to Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab informing that Rahul Gandhi will be Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha."

He added that the other office bearers would be appointed later.

Congress chief Kharge expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi will raise the voice of the people in his role as Lok Sabha LoP. "In the 18th Lok Sabha, the House of the People shall truly reflect the aspirations of the last person standing, with Shri Rahul Gandhi becoming their voice. As Congress President, I am confident that a leader who has traversed the length and breadth of the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and from Manipur to Maharashtra shall raise the voice of the people — especially the marginalised and the poor," he stated on X.

"The Congress party is strongly committed to protect Democracy and the Constitution, by upholding its eternal principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity," he added.

The INDIA bloc meeting at Kharge's residence was attended by various prominent leaders, including NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and President of Rashtriya Loktantrik Party Hanuman Beniwal. Notably, the announcement comes hours after Rahul Gandhi took oath as Lok Sabha MP representing Raebareli.

CWC Urged Rahul Gandhi To Become Lok Sabha LoP

Earlier this month, Sonia Gandhi was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) during a meeting held in the Central Hall of Parliament. This proposal was initiated by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and supported by senior party leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Tariq Anwar, and K Sudhakaran.

The CWC members had previously passed a resolution on June 8, urging former party chief Rahul Gandhi to assume the role of the party leader in the Lok Sabha. The CWC highlighted his efforts through the Bharat Jodo Yatras, attributing the party’s performance in the general elections to these initiatives.

The Congress Party made significant strides, emerging as the second-largest party in the Lok Sabha, increasing its tally to 99 seats from 52 in the 2019 elections. This accomplishment allows the Congress to hold the position of Leader of Opposition for the first time in a decade, a role it could not secure in the past two elections due to insufficient seats.

The CWC adopted two resolutions: one commending the leadership of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for their roles in the party's improved performance, and another crediting Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatras for this success. Additionally, the CWC's resolution underscored the people's verdict as a personal and moral defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had campaigned extensively for a mandate in his name.

In the recently concluded polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats, setting the stage for them to form the government. Notably, this was the first time since 2014 that the BJP formed a government without securing a majority on its own in the lower house.