'Demand Of 140 Crore People': Congress Leaders Root For Rahul Gandhi As Leader Of Opposition In Lok Sabha

A day before Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) is meeting to deliberate on crucial matters, including the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha.

Several party leaders are expected to advocate for senior leader and MP-elect Rahul Gandhi to assume the role of LoP.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, along with MPs Shashi Tharoor and Manickam Tagore, expressed support for this move.

"Our wish is the same as the demand of 140 crore people. Rahul Gandhi has to take the position as LoP," Reddy said, Indian Express reported.

“I am very much in favour. It’s a very important proposal but he has to decide in the end,” said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on whether Rahul Gandhi should be made the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

"For the Congress' leader in the Lok Sabha, we all feel Rahul Gandhi should be given charge. If he accepts this role, he will be LoP leading the 234 INDIA bloc MPs," Manickam Tagore said.

Following the CWC meeting, the party will also hold the meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party comprising all newly elected Lok Sabha MPs and Rajya Sabha MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament at 5.30 pm.

This comes as Narendra Modi on Friday (7 June) met President Droupadi Murmu and stake claim to form the government at the Centre.

The President has appointed Modi as the Prime Minister-designate and the oath-taking ceremony will be held at 7.15 pm on Sunday (9 June ) evening.

Ahead of meeting with the President, PM Modi was unanimously elected as the Parliamentary party leader during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on Friday.

The NDA, with 293 seats after Tuesday's election results, has crossed the majority mark of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha, and is set to form the government.

The INDI Alliance bagged 234 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress emerging as largest party in the bloc with 99 seats.

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