Congress fight continues for LoP status

Congress party failing to convince the Loksabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to accords Leader of opposition parties status in the Loksabha, has filed a petition in Supreme Court today for the same. The apex court served notice to NDA government to submit its explanation in this regard within two weeks.

A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha said "Leader of Opposition' conveys the voice of a representative different from government in the House and asked the Centre to make its stand clear within two weeks, saying the legislation cannot be put in "cold storage".

Speaker Mahajan has made it clear that she can’t grant Congress party the LoP status as it do not have requisite number MPs in Loksabha. The minimum required number is 55 that is 10 percent of total strength, but Congress party has only 44 MPs in the house.

According to Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognized Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998, a recoginsed party in relation to the house of people (Lok Saba) means every party which has a strength of not less than 55 members in the house.

So, when the Speaker refused to accord LoP status to Congress party, it knocks the apex court doors and very much happy to hear the observations of the bench on this issue. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma aiming his guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "He talks of taking Opposition parties along, his actions are in "direct conflict."