Congress not eligible for Leader of Opposition post in Lok Sabha: Attorney General tells Speaker

New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said on Friday that Congress is not eligible for the post of leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha as it does not have the numbers for the claim.

Rohatgi told his views to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who had sought his legal opinion on Congress's plea for the post of leader of opposition.

However, Congress downplayed the Attorney General's opinion, saying the law officer's opinion was not the last word.

Reportedly, Congress leader Manish Tewari said, “Attorney general's view is not binding on the House.”

Congress with 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha has emerged as the second largest party after BJP's 282 but fell short by 11 seats to stake claim for the LoP, for which it requires a strength of 55.

As per Direction 121 of the 'Directions of the Speaker', the Speaker should ensure that a Parliamentary party or group should have at least one-tenth of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha for being eligible for getting the LoP post.