What Powers Does RaGa Have As Leader Of Opposition In Lok Sabha? What Will Be His Salary?

Rahul Gandhi, who was elected Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will have more status and powers. He will get a better salary, privileges accorded to ministers, and seats on important panels.

Rahul Gandhi, who ran a Lok Sabha election campaign this year with the Constitution of India in his hand, took on his first Constitutional role on Monday as he was elected the Leader of Opposition [LoP] in the House of The People on Monday. As the LoP Rahul Gandhi will get a salary and will have several facilities and amenities at his disposal under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

According to a government booklet available in the Parliament library, "The Leader of the Opposition occupies a seat in the front row left to the Chair. He/she also enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occasions like escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum and a seat in the front row at the time of the Address by the President to both the Houses of Parliament."

Rahul Gandhi's Journey To His First Constitutional Post — A Snapshot

Rahul Gandhi is a five-time Lok Sabha MP, having represented the constituencies of Amethi, Wayanad, and now, Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi first became an MP in 2004 when he won the Amethi constituency. He has lost only one election so far — the one held in Amethi in 2019. But since he fought for the Wayanad seat in Kerala the same year, he retained his Parliament membership.

Rahul Gandhi was briefly disqualified as an MP in 2023 after he was convicted in a defamation case. However, his conviction was stayed and his membership was reinstated.

Rahul Gandhi held the position of the Congress President between 2017 and 2019. He currently serves as the chairperson of the Youth Congress.

Rahul Gandhi's Family Connection To LoP Post

Rahul is the third member of the Gandhi family to hold the Leader of Opposition's post in Lok Sabha. His father Rajiv Gandhi, who later became the Prime Minister of India, was the first member of the Gandhi family to be elected to the post in 1989-90. His mother Sonia Gandhi held the Constitutional post from 1999 to 2004.

What Would Be Rahul Gandhi's Powers As Leader Of Opposition

Rahul Gandhi will have greater powers as India sees its first Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha in 10 years. It will be difficult for the government to make a decision without the LoP's support.

Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of Opposition, will enjoy the status, salary, and allowances of a Cabinet minister. He will get a salary of Rs 3.3 lakh. He will also get security at the level of a Cabinet minister. This may include a Z+ security cover.

He will get a government bungalow similar to that of a Cabinet minister. 

Rahul Gandhi will now be on the three-member panel that selects the chief election commissioner and two election commissioners. His powers will be limited on the three-member PM Narendra Modi-led panel as the third member, a central Cabinet member, is picked by the PM. However, with the BJP no longer enjoying absolute majority in Lok Sabha, the two members cannot "impose" its decisions on Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi will have greater powers as a member of the committee that picks the chiefs of the central agencies like the CBI, ED, and CVC. The three-member committee will be led by PM Modi and will have the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge appointed by the latter on board.

This will be a big boost for the Opposition as it has been accusing the government of using central investigative agencies to target its leaders and intimidate them into joining the BJP.