In each house of Parliament, there is the ‘Leader of the Opposition’. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is the politician who leads the official opposition in either House of the Parliament of India.
Criteria for the Leader of the Opposition :
The leader of the largest Opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the House is recognized as the leader of the Opposition in that House. Clause 4 of The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, provides for the leader of the largest opposition party to be inducted as a member of the selection committee in a scenario where the lower house of parliament does not have a recognised leader of the opposition.
Function of the Leader of the opposition:
To provide a constructive criticism of the policies of the government and to provide an alternative government.
Recognition of the Leader of the opposition in India :
It was in 1969 that an official leader of the Opposition was recognized for the first time and it was accorded statutory recognition in 1977.
Other facts on the LoP:
- They are entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
- Leader of Opposition equivalent in USA is known as the ‘minority leader’.
- The British political system has an unique institution called the ‘Shadow Cabinet’.
- Since 1967 a convention has developed whereby the Chairman of the public account committee is selected invariably from the Opposition (mostly leader of Opposition).
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