In Delhi, the INDIA bloc elected Rahul Gandhi, Raebareli MLA and leader of the Indian National Congress, as the opposition leader of Lok Sabha. Sonia Gandhi, CPP chairperson, announced the unanimous decision of all INDIA bloc party heads ahead of the Lok Sabha sessions. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal confirmed on Tuesday, June 25th, that Sonia Gandhi informed Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab of Rahul Gandhi’s appointment, with other office bearers to be finalized later.
Following a strategic meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, INDIA bloc leaders also discussed opposition tactics for the upcoming Lok Sabha speaker election scheduled for Wednesday, June 26th. Efforts by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s leadership to reach consensus on the speaker were unsuccessful, as the INDIA bloc nominated eight-time MP K Suresh for the post.
Rahul Gandhi, currently serving his fifth term as MP representing Rae Bareli, recently took oath with a copy of the Constitution. He also won from Wayanad but vacated the seat for his sister Priyanka Vadra Gandhi’s debut in a by-election.
As the new opposition leader leading the INDIA bloc, Rahul Gandhi will engage Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Lok Sabha sessions. Observers anticipate the dynamics between Modi and Rahul in the upcoming sessions.
This marks the Congress party’s return to opposition status after a decade, having secured 99 seats this term.
