Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (IAST: Lok Sabhā ke Vipakṣa ke Netā) is an elected Member of Lok Sabha who leads the official opposition in the Lower House of the Parliament of India. The Leader of the Opposition is the parliamentary chairperson of the largest political party in the Lok Sabha that is not in government (provided that said political party has at least 10% of the seats in the Lok Sabha). The post is vacant since 26 May 2014, as no opposition party has 10% Seats.

Leader of the Opposition of Lok Sabha
Lok Sabhā ke Vipakṣa ke Netā
Incumbent
Vacant
since 26 May 2014
StyleThe Honourable
TypeLeader of the opposition
StatusHead of the opposition party
ResidenceNew Delhi
AppointerParliamentary chairperson of the largest political party in the Lok Sabha that is not on government
(provided that said political party has at least 10% of the seats in the Lok Sabha)
Term length5 years
Inaugural holderRam Subhag Singh (1969–1970)
Formation1950
Salary₹330,000 (US$4,100)
(excl. allowances) per month
Websiteloksabha.nic.in

History

In Lok Sabha until 1969, there was de facto opposition leader with no formal recognition, status or privilege. Later, the leader of the opposition was given official recognition and their salary and allowances was extended by the Act, 1977. Since then, the leader in the Lok Sabha should satisfy three conditions, namely,

  1. he should be a member of the House
  2. of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and
  3. be recognised by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

In December 1969, the Congress Party (O) was recognised as the main opposition party in the parliament while its leader, Ram Subhag Singh plays the role of opposition leader.

Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha did not recognise an official Leader of the Opposition until 1969. The position was also vacant between 1980 and 1989 and at present, since 2014.[1]

No. Portrait Name Constituency Tenure Lok Sabha Prime Minister Party
1 Ram Subhag Singh Buxar 17 December 1969 27 December 1970 1 year, 10 days 4th Indira Gandhi Indian National Congress (O)
–  – Vacant 27 December 1970 30 June 1977 5th No official opposition
2 Yashwantrao Chavan Satara 1 July 1977 11 April 1978 284 days 6th Morarji Desai Indian National Congress
3 C. M. Stephen Idukki 12 April 1978 9 July 1979 1 year, 88 days
(2) Yashwantrao Chavan Satara 10 July 1979 28 July 1979 18 days
4 Jagjivan Ram Sasaram 29 July 1979 22 August 1979 24 days Charan Singh Janata Party
–  – Vacant 22 August 1979 31 December 1984 7th Indira Gandhi No official opposition[2]
31 December 1984 18 December 1989 8th Rajiv Gandhi
5 Rajiv Gandhi Amethi 18 December 1989 23 December 1990 1 year, 5 days 9th VP Singh Indian National Congress
6 L. K. Advani New Delhi 24 December 1990 13 March 1991 2 years, 214 days Chandra Shekhar Bharatiya Janata Party
Gandhinagar 21 June 1991 26 July 1993 10th P. V. Narasimha Rao
7 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lucknow 21 July 1993 10 May 1996 2 years, 289 days
8 P. V. Narasimha Rao Berhampur 16 May 1996 31 May 1996 15 days 11th Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian National Congress
(7) Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lucknow 1 June 1996 4 December 1997 1 year, 186 days Deve Gowda
IK Gujral		 Bharatiya Janata Party
9 Sharad Pawar Baramati 19 March 1998 26 April 1999 1 year, 38 days 12th Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian National Congress
10 Sonia Gandhi Amethi 31 October 1999 6 February 2004 4 years, 98 days 13th
(6) L. K. Advani Gandhinagar 21 May 2004 18 May 2009 4 years, 362 days 14th Manmohan Singh Bharatiya Janata Party
11 Sushma Swaraj Vidisha 21 December 2009 19 May 2014 4 years, 149 days 15th
–  – Vacant 20 May 2014 29 May 2019 16th Narendra Modi No official opposition[3]
30 May 2019 Present 17th

Deputy Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
Portrait Name Constituency Tenure Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Party
Sushma Swaraj Vidisha 3 June 2009 21 December 2009 15th L. K. Advani Bharatiya Janata Party
Gopinath Munde Beed 22 December 2009 20 May 2014 Sushma Swaraj

See also

References
  1. "Lok Sabha". Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  2. "No leader of oppn? There wasn't any in Nehru, Indira, Rajiv days". Rediff. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. "Narendra Modi government will not have Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha again". India Today.

Further reading
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