Cong to be constructive opposition

Mallikarjuna Kharge, who was chosen leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, today said his party would not function as an "opposition for opposition sake" and its approach would be "issue-based".

"We will not function as opposition for opposition sake. It (our functioning) will be issue-based in the larger interest of the country and society," Kharge said in his reaction to the new role assigned by his party before leaving for New Delhi.

The Congress as the Opposition party would, at the same time, discharge its responsibility in highlighting the "mistakes" of the government, Kharge, a veteran Congress leader who has never tasted defeat in his more than 45 years of political life, said. Profusely thanking Congress President Sonia Gandhi for reposing faith in him, he said, " I will do my utmost to measure upto the expectations of party president."

I will sincerely and honestly try to discharge the responsibility in the interest of the country. Whatever job has been entrusted to me by my party president, I will try to come upto her expectations," he said. He said he would seek the guidance of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders and take all along in his new role.

Besides his seniority, the fact that Karnataka has sent the largest contingent of nine MPs for Congress in this Lok Sabha polls, also seems to have gone in his favour. There were different views in the party on who should lead the pack of 44 MPs in the Lok Sabha. While a number of leaders were of the firm opinion that either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul should take up the responsibility, there was also a section which was propping up the name of senior-most party MP Kamal Nath.

Echoing the view in some sections of the party that either of the Gandhis should take the mantle of leadership in Lok Sabha, former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor had said a couple of days back that the political leadership of the party has to be its face to the nation as well.

While a number of senior leaders wanted Sonia to take over as the Leader of Opposition, the leaders mentored and given responsibilities by the Congress Vice President want him to lead the pack. Their argument was that it was Rahul, who was the face of the party in the Lok Sabha polls, and should not "shy away" from taking responsibility in difficult times for the party.

There was a view that if Sonia does not become the Leader of the party in Lower House, then Rahul should assume the role. Leaders have been saying in private that the party should not be sending confusing signals among party workers and the voters as to where the leadership of Congress lies.