The Congress party has started deliberations over the name of the leader of opposition. There are speculations that Rahul Gandhi might give the post of Leader of Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha to his closest aide K C Venugopal in his place. According to reports, Venugopal appears to be the frontrunner in the race, followed by Gaurav Gogoi, with Manish Tiwari also in contention. It seems unlikely that a leader from North India will secure the post this time around.
However, the decision on who will be selected is expected to be announced in a few days. Initially favored by Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi, Kumari Shailaja, a leader from Haryana, faced objections reportedly raised by National President Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge, serving as both the national president and the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, expressed concerns about the prospect of important posts in both houses of Parliament being held by Dalit leaders.
If Venugopal assumes the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, it remains to be seen if he will continue as the party’s General Secretary. According to experts, similar to Kharge being both President and Parliamentary Leader, Venugopal could hold both positions. The party has historically tailored its constitution to fit its needs, notably adapting rules when Sonia Gandhi entered active politics. Initially, the constitution stipulated that the Parliamentary Party Leader must also be the Congress President. However, in 1999, amendments allowed Sonia Gandhi to lead despite not being an MP at the time. This amendment should have favored Kharge for the current position.
Nevertheless, changes were made, allowing the Parliamentary Party Leader to be elected from MPs, who in turn select leaders for both houses. This alteration enabled Sonia to remain Parliamentary Leader even when not President. Experts suggest that if Rahul Gandhi declines the Leader of Opposition role, now might be the opportune moment to appoint him Parliamentary Party Leader. However, decisions within the Gandhi family appear to be made to suit their convenience, similar to past practices of Sonia Gandhi. This approach explains Rahul’s political strategy, mirroring that of his mother.
It appears Rahul Gandhi might decline the Leader of the Opposition role, pending decisions from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Sources suggest Venugopal and Gaurav Gogoi are front-runners, with Manish Tiwari also in consideration. In the 17th Lok Sabha, Tiwari aimed to lead the House, but the party opted for Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary from Bengal instead. Gaurav Gogoi currently serves as Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha. Venugopal is likely to become Leader of the Opposition unless objections arise, potentially leading to the consideration of other candidates.