Undemocratic if not consulted on key appointments: Cong

Cong is of the view that the main opposition party needed to be given the LoP status to be on the panel to consider appointments like CVC, head of NHRC and Lokpal

Raising the pitch over the Leader of Opposition issue in Lok Sabha, Congress today said it will be "undemocratic" if the ruling party ignores its say in the appointment of Lokpal and other such key decisions.

"If in the appointment of Lokpal, they ignore Congress party, which has secured more than 19 per cent votes in this Lok Sabha polls, one percent more than what the BJP had got in last election, it would not only be unfortunate but also undemocratic" AICC Communication Department Chairman Ajay Maken said.

The Congress is of the view that the main opposition party needed to be given the LoP status to be on the panel to consider appointments like Central Vigilance Commissioner, head of the National Human Rights Commission and the Lokpal.

Maken was replying to a question as to what it would do now as the government may not even consult Congress in the appointment of Lokpal as the party does not have the numbers to claim the LoP to be included in the panel.

He, however, remained ambivalent on whether or not Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan seeking LoP post for the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

"I am not confirming the letter thing," he told reporters when asked about it.

Other top leaders also feigned ignorance about it while sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that they are not in receipt of any such letter.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today steered clear of questions on the issue of Leader of the Opposition status to the Congress saying the matter is with the Speaker.

"The matter is with the Speaker. I do not want to say anything about it", he said.

He had earlier taunted the Congress saying that people have not chosen any party for the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.