(Image source from: Is Congress eligible for LoP post in Lok Sabha?})

The Budget session began on Monday with the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha lying vacant. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has demanded that the post of LoP be given to the party as it was “entitled” to it.

Sonia Gandhi stated that the Congress was the single largest opposition party in the lower house, which entitles it to the post of the LoP.

The Congress party has 44 MPs and is the second largest party in the lower house of Parliament.

The present strength of the Lok Sabha is 545 members. To be eligible for the post of LoP, a political party must have secured at least 10 percent of the seats in the lower house. The number stands at 55 members, but the Congress ha only 44 members.

The BJP has cited lack of numbers as a mandatory rule for getting the post of LoP in the lower house.

Sonia Gandhi's contention is that the Congress has a pre-poll alliance, making it the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. That makes the Congress eligible for the post of leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, added Gandhi.

On being asked if the Congress has any action in mind if the government does not comply to its demand, the party chief said that they would wait and see.

Earlier, a source from Congress has said that party may go to court if it doesn't get its leader recognised as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that the issue of Leader of Opposition was not raised in the all party meet held before the budget session of the new government.

The BJP-led NDA government will present the Rail Budget on July 8 and the General Budget on July 10.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)