Context: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha, a position that lay vacant for 10 years because no party had numbers equalling a tenth of the strength of the House.

• The LoP is the parliamentary chairperson of the largest political party/ coalition in the Lok Sabha that is not in government.

What is the role of Leader of Opposition (LoP)?

• A Leader of Opposition is the PM-in-waiting.

• The LoP holds an important position in a parliamentary democracy. 

• He is a part of the high-level committee that selects the

• Chief Election Commissioners

• heads of central agencies like the CBI and ED. 

• Lokpal

• Chief Vigilance Commissioner

• National Human Rights Commission chairperson.

LoP is a “shadow Prime Minister”: According to the ‘Practice and Procedure of Parliament’, a manual published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, as a shadow Prime Minister, the LoP has to be prepared to “take up the responsibility of forming a government if his party secures a majority at an election or if the government resigns or is defeated.”

• The position — both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — has statutory recognition. The LoP is given salary and certain other facilities and amenities as mandated by The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

Powers of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the House

Order of precedence: The LoP in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha come at No. 7, along with

• Union Cabinet Ministers,

• The National Security Advisor,

• The Principal Secretary to the PM,

• The Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog,

• Former PMs, and Chief Ministers.

Sitting position in the House

• The LoP sits in the front row to the left of the Chair, and enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occasions like escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum (Chair of the Speaker).

• The LoP is also entitled to a seat in the front row during the Address by the President to both Houses of Parliament.

The main duty of the LoP

• It is to serve as the voice of the opposition in the House and is considered as a shadow Prime Minister with a shadow Cabinet.

• This means, s/he is ready to take over the administration if the Government resigns or is defeated on the floor of the House.

• Because the parliamentary system is based on "mutual forbearance" (acknowledging that we do not all have to agree on everything), the LoP is free to disagree while yet allowing the PM to rule.

• His/her proactive role in facilitating smooth functioning of the business of the House is as important as that of the Government.

Practical role and responsibility

• Most importantly, the LoP is the opposition’s representative in the high-powered committees headed by the PM for appointment to key posts such as

• The Director of CBI,

• The Central Vigilance Commissioner and Chief Information Commissioner,

• The Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission, and

• The Lokpal.

• She/he will also be a member of crucial committees, including Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, Estimates and several Joint Parliamentary Committees.