New Delhi: Congress on Monday raised the pitch on the issue of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha with party president Sonia Gandhi asserting the party was “entitled” to it and UPA MPs deciding to write to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan seeking an immediate decision.
“We are the single-largest party. We have got a pre-poll alliance. Hence, we are entitled to the Leader of Opposition's post,” Mrs Gandhi said on Monday.
Shortly after Mrs Gandhi’s remarks, Party spokesman Anand Sharma said Congress would exercise all options to ensure a “democratically correct and logical conclusion” to the issue.
Mr Sharma said the letter to the Speaker is ready and will be sent after all UPA MPs sign it.
Meanwhile, Ms Mahajan said that she was ready to discuss the issue with the Congress if approached.
However, the AIADMK and the BJD, which together have 57 members in the Lok Sabha, have been maintaining a distance from the main Opposition Congress on the floor, suggesting that their opposition would be different from the Congress’ variety.
Their members neither joined the Congress, Trinamul, RJD or TRS in raising the price-rise issue and other matters, nor got up to raise their issues in the LS on Monday.
Sources said the BJD wants to play a “constructive Opposition” while the AIADMK is likely to be “offered” the post of deputy speaker.
