According to Subhash C. Kashyap,
former Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, the post of Leader of the Opposition
can go only to the leader of a political party and not to the leader of an
alliance, whether formed before the election or after. Hence, neither the
Congress, as the head of the pre-poll United Progressive Alliance (UPA), nor a
post-poll grouping of regional parties in the new Lok Sabha can stake claim to
the post.
A party needs 10 per cent of
the strength of the House (55 in the Lok Sabha) to stake claim, and the largest
Opposition, the Congress, with 44 seats is way short of that number. Although
the UPA has 60 members, this is of no relevance in appointing Leader of the
Opposition.
The only consolation for the
Congress is that no other grouping can claim the post. Even if the All India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal
come together, the leader of the group will not be entitled to the post.
Mr.
Kashyap says that, they can only be leaders in the Opposition, not the Leader
of the Opposition. According to him, it would be “highly irregular” to give
the post to the leader of any party in the current Lok Sabha as no party meets
the minimum requirement of seats. Besides, public funds are involved: the Leader
of the Opposition enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister with all attendant
perks and benefits.
This is not the first time
that the Lok Sabha would be without a Leader of the Opposition. Until 1969, no
party qualified for the post. Between 1980 and 1989 too, no party had the
requisite numbers. As for the post of Deputy Speaker, it is given to the Opposition
by convention.
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