BJP to elect Leaders of Opposition in LS, RS on May 31

BJP Parliamentary Party will meet here on May 31 to elect Leaders of the Opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"The Parliamentary Party will meet on May 31 to formally elect L K Advani as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha," BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters.

Advani, who had initially refused to accept the post following the party's poor performance in the general elections, agreed on requests from the party's Parliamentary Board.

Since Jaswant Singh, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has been elected to the Lower House from Darjeeling, BJP will have to choose a new leader. Names of senior Rajya Sabha members M Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley are doing the rounds.

The party will also choose Deputy Leaders for both the Houses on May 31. Sushma Swaraj is likely to be the Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, while S S Ahluwalia may become the Deputy Leader in the Upper House.

The party may also finalise the name of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha if the Congress offers this post to it.