Government resolute about LoP post, Sonia Gandhi pays 'courtesy call' to President

NEW DELHI: The government appeared to be in no mood to give in to Congress claim for Opposition Leader post, even as Congress president chief Sonia Gandhi paid a ‘courtesy call’ on President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, triggering speculation that her party may take the battle to Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

At least three senior Cabinet ministers indicated that the government believes Congress’ demand lacked merit. "The people’s verdict has given Congress only 44 seats in the Lok Sabha, 11 less than number required for the post. That was the criterion in the past and that is how it would be dealt even now,” said a Cabinet minister.

About, the Congress argument that the LOP post had now become a statutory requirement for selection of Lokpal, CVC and the CBI chief, the government side said, "LOP’s role in the selection panel is valid only when there is a formally-recognised LOP."

The ruling side also insisted that the rules and conventions allow only the individual strength of a party, not the combined strength of group of parties, to be basis for claiming LOP’s post.

Congress is keen to have its say in the appointment of key investigating posts as it apprehends the NDA regime may, "use these offices to order investigations against many decisions of the previous regime."

It seems to be building a case that the government was denying it the LOP post to avoid Opposition scrutiny in appoints of Lokpal, CVC and CBI chief. "We will continue to fight for our right to get the post of LOP. The government’s dogmatic opposition will only worsen coordination and cooperation even in the Rajya Sabha," said a Congress leader.