Won't stake claim in Lok Sabha for Leader of Opposition: Congress
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Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala added that the onus lies with the Central government "whether they want to designate a party formally as principal opposition or not".
The Congress party on Saturday said that it will not stake a claim for the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as it is falling short of two seats and is not able to reach the required number of 54.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told media that the party needs 10 per cent to of the total number of Lok Sabha seats, "since we're 2 short officially we can't have a Leader of Opposition," he said.
Randeep Singh Surjewala on Leader of Opposition: We will not stake a claim to the Leader of Opposition till we have the strength of 54 & since we don't have we're not going to stake a claim. https://t.co/Yjthql3coc
— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2019
Surjewala added that the onus lies with the Central government "whether they want to designate a party formally as principal opposition or not".
Watch: Sonia Gandhi elected as the leader of Congress Parliamentary Party
The party had appointed senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge to the post in 2014 for the 16th Lok Sabha term.
Meanwhile, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) today.
The newly elected Congress Lok Sabha MPs were present for the meeting which took place at the Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi.