Congress former president Rahul Gandhi is said to be not showing interest to take up the role of `Leader of Opposition’ in the Lok Sabha by becoming the party’s parliamentary party leader. Though the Congress Working Committee in a resolution elected him for this position, along with re-electing her mother Sonia Gandhi as Chairman of Congress Parliamentary Party, he is yet to convey his acceptance.
After resigning as party president in 2019 owing responsibility for the party’s humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, he is avoiding any official position within the party. He refused to be again party president inspite of unanimous choice of the party and insisted for a person outside the Gandhi family.
He is said to be keen on ground outreaches on the lines of Bharat Jodo Yatra meeting with various sections of people and also party cadres. He is expressing his view that he is inclined to be tied down to the party leadership position in the Lok Sabha, which will demand a lot of time and attention.
The meeting of top Congress brass at the residence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday was also expected to take a final decision on the Leader of Opposition position, as the Lok Sabha session is scheduled to begin from June 24. However, the meeting ended without taking up this issue.
The meeting was confined to deciding on the seat to be vacated by Rahul Gandhi. However, sources said the Congress leaders were still hopeful Rahul would assume the mantle of Leader of Opposition in the Lower House, where the Congress will get this official recognition after a gap of 10 years.
“Congress leaders are still hopeful that Rahul will accept this role. Discussions on the issue will be held over the coming days,” a top Congress source said.
The five-term Lok Sabha MP, Congress sources said, was the most qualified for the LS Leader of Opposition role “having taken on PM Narendra Modi from the front.”