Why is it in the news ?
1. Shri Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha by the Congress Party. This will be also the first time that the Lok Sabha will get a leader in the opposition after ten years.
2.Congress Party general secretary K.C. Venugopal said that as leader of opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi will be a bold voice for the common people of India and ensure that the NDA government is held firmly accountable at all times.
3.In the previous two Lok Sabha, the Congress was the largest opposition party but it did not have the requisite numbers, which is 1/10th of the strength of the House. In the 16th Lok Sabha, Congress had 44 MPs while in the 17th Lok Sabha, it had 52. But in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress party won 99 seats. In India, a single party has to meet the 10% seat criterion, not an alliance.
History of LOP
1.The post of LOP was not recognised until 1969. When the Congress was split in 1969, Ramshubhag Singh became the first recognised LOP of the Lok Sabha from Congress (O) and Shyamnandhan Mishra in the Rajya Sabha.
2.The post received statutory recognition through the salary and allowances of leaders of the opposition in the Parliament act, 1977. It defines the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha which has the greatest numerical strength in the opposition camp and is recognised by the chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Status of opposition party leader in the Parliament
1.As the leader of opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi will get the status of the cabinet minister rank. This will enhance his position in the protocol list and can be a natural claimant to the post of the Prime Minister of the opposition bloc if the government is toppled down in Lok Sabha. As LOP, Shri Rahul Gandhi would be an important member of the key panels for the appointments of CBI director, chief election commissioner and other election commissioners, central vigilance commissioner, the central information commission, the National human rights commission. While the Prime Minister heads all the appointment committees, as a leader of opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi would be an important member of the said appointment committees.
2.Shri Rahul Gandhi has been an MP for five terms since 2004 and is currently representing Raebareli (UP constituency) in the Lok Sabha. He had also won from Wayanad in Kerala but he resigned and now his sister Priyanka Gandhi Wadra would contest from that constituency.
Role of leader of opposition party in the Parliament
1. To question the Government of the day and hold them accountable on the burning issues.
2.To fix the mistakes of the ruling party.
3.To uphold the best interest of the people of the country.
4.To warn the government against any drastic action which would jeopardise the national interest.
5.To check the excesses of the government in Parliament.
6.To make coordination with the government and to support the government in case of foreign aggression.
7. Constructive criticism of the government.
8.Putting restrictions on arbitrariness of the government in Parliament.
9.Safeguarding liberty, equality and fraternity and promoting social, political and economic justice.
10.Expression of public opinion in the Parliament.
11.Preparation to form an alternative government in case the government in power fails to muster majority in the Lok Sabha or the government is defeated on the floor of the House while passing an important bill.
12.The role of the leader of the opposition party is one of responsibility. He watches for encroachment on the rights of minorities and demands debates when the government is trying to slip away without parliamentary criticism. He must be familiar with all the tricks of a skilled parliamentarian. It is excellent training for the future occupants of the treasury bench.
13.According to Herald Macmillan, the role of leader of opposition is to criticise, to find fault and to develop his own alternative proposals and policies. While he remains a critic, he must in a sense be a partner and even a buttress of the government to which he opposes whenever there is a foreign danger or when security and safety is affected. This dual responsibility, he must discharge with fidelity.
Watch Full Video In Hindi On The Youtube by Clicking on The Icon🔻
Parliament
This is the list of current opposition parties in the Parliament of India:
Legislative Assemblies
This is the list of current opposition parties in the Legislative Assemblies of the Indian states and union territories:.
Legislative Councils
This is the list of current opposition parties in the Legislative Councils of the Indian states:
Conclusion
1.The leader of opposition holds an important position in the parliamentary democracy in India. There may be several opposition parties in Parliament but the leader of the largest opposition party in either House of the Parliament, having 10% strength of the total effective seats of each House of the Parliament, is recognised as the leader of the opposition. This office arose out of the practice in England. In England, His Majesty’s opposition is His Majesty’s alternative government and so the leader of opposition is almost His Majesty’s alternative Prime Minister.
2.Similar situation obtains in India where leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and also in state assemblies and state councils act as watchdogs. It is the responsibility of the leaders of opposition to safeguard the rights and liberties of common people, to warn the government whenever the country faces external threats or when the economic interest of the country is being compromised. Thus, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha is only next in importance to the Prime Minister in the Parliamentary democracy of India.
No comments:
Post a Comment