What powers does Rahul Gandhi get as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha?
The Leader of the Opposition is the politician who leads the official Opposition in either House of the Parliament.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has recognised Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition (LoP). In a notification issued on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said Gandhi had officially been recognised as the LoP in the Lok Sabha with effect from June 9.
The Congress MP from Rai Bareli in Uttar Pradesh has been recognised as LoP under Section 2 of the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. The Leader of Opposition is not a constitutional post. This is the first time in a decade that there is a LoP in the lower house of Parliament. An LoP ensures checks on the ruling government. An opposition party needs at least 55 seats (10 per cent) to claim the post of LoP in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Powers of Leader of Opposition
The power of LoP includes having a key role in the appointment of bureaucrats to key posts. He enjoys the status, salary, and allowances of a Cabinet minister. He will get a salary of Rs 3.3 lakh and a security at the level of a Cabinet minister.
Rahul Gandhi will get a government bungalow similar to that of a Cabinet minister. The Congress MP will now be on the three-member panel that selects the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. He will also be a member of the committee that picks the chiefs of the central agencies including CBI, ED and CVC.
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