NEW DELHI: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi backed Rahul Gandhi to be the Leader of Opposition on Thursday and said that he was the right person to take up the coveted position as he was the face of the party in the 2024 general elections.
Several Congress MPs are too pitching for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, the newly elected MP from Assam’s Jorhat said, "Gandhi’s dedication to protecting the Indian Constitution was a theme that echoed in every nook and corner of this country, therefore, he is the right person to lead the party in Parliament. However, the final decision is taken by the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP)."
“Rahul Gandhi’s two Bharat Jodo Yatras had a resounding impact on this election. His message of ‘opening a shop of love in the market of hate’ had a long-lasting impact. Therefore, I feel that he should take the lead. But in the end, it’s the Congress parliamentary party to decide,” said Gogoi.
Though the party offered the position to Rahul Gandhi in 2014 and 2019, he turned down the offer as the party did not have the requisite seats to qualify as Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
To claim the post, a party should have at least 10 percent of the membership of the Lok Sabha. While the Congress had 52 seats in 2019, in 2014, it had only 44 seats. However, the party registered a spectacular show by increasing its tally to 99 seats in the 2024 elections.
Echoing the view, senior Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote on X that Rahul Gandhi should lead the party in the Lower House.
“I sought votes on the name of my leader, Rahul Gandhi. I think he should be the Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha. I hope elected Congress MPs also think the same. Let’s see how the Congress Parliamentary Party decides. We are a democratic party,” wrote Tagore.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that Rahul Gandhi is duty-bound to take on the mantle of Lok Sabha parliamentary party leadership, as he led the campaign from the front.
“Rahul ji led the campaign frontally. He was the face. He is duty-bound to take on the mantle of Lok Sabha parliamentary party leadership. He cannot make all decisions about himself. Some decisions the party leaders / MPs have to take. Surely it will be a unanimous choice,” wrote Tankha on X.
Gogoi further said that Gandhi withstood enormous pressure, hate, and ridicule from the BJP and its ecosystem in defending the idea of India.
“There is an entire troll army who wants to malign his reputation. Rahul Gandhi withstood so much pressure, hate, and ridicule from the BJP and its ecosystem only to defend the idea of India as he walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and then later took a yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. He is the main face of our mission to save Indian democracy and protect the Constitution,” said Gogoi.
INDIA bloc partner Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also welcomed the proposal. “If Rahul Gandhi is ready to accept the leadership, why would we object? He has proven himself as a national leader multiple times. He is one of the popular leaders. We all want him and love him. There is no objection and difference in the alliance,” Raut told the media.
