Congress: BJP playing politics over leader of Opposition

Congress also expressed doubts if Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's decision on the issue would be fair, as it might be influenced by the govt

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government starting the process to select the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), without settling the issue of the leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, the Congress has accused the BJP of playing "petty politics" over the issue. The Congress also expressed doubts if Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's decision on the issue would be fair, as it might be influenced by the government.

This has led to protests from the BJP, which accused the party of politicising the post.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The LoP is the Congress's right. It is not for the government to give it to us. Both as the biggest party and also the biggest pre-poll alliance other than the ruling one, the Congress is the natural claimant for LoP."

Surjewala said the Speaker should not allow her judgment to be "coloured by the shades of politics".

The government on Monday set in motion the process for the CVC's appointment. While the selection panel should ideally include the LoP, the CVC Act says "LoP in the Lok Sabha shall, when no such leader has been recognised, include the leader of the single-largest group in opposition."

By that logic, the government could choose not to give its nod for the LoP appointment and still take Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress's leader in the Lok Sabha, on board the selection panel. The BJP has repeatedly said the Congress does not have the mandate to be the LoP.