Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition: What to Expect

He’s Likely to Advocate for Economic Reform, Social Justice and Inclusive Governance

Newsreel Asia Insight #264
June 27, 2024

Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, has been appointed as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, with the INDIA alliance having significantly increased its parliamentary seats to 237, up from the 91 seats held by its predecessor, the United Progressive Alliance, in the previous election cycle. What does this shift in the parliamentary landscape mean for us, the citizens?

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), retains a diminished majority with 293 of the 543 seats, down from 353 in the previous parliament. This potentially brings a new dynamic to the legislative process in India.

During the last five years, the BJP, with its robust majority, passed several controversial pieces of legislation. These include the abrogation of Article 370, which removed the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which made it difficult for the non-governmental sector to meet vulnerable people’s needs.

The strong majority previously enjoyed by the BJP enabled it to push these measures through with relatively little resistance in the parliament. With the current numbers, however, the BJP may find it more challenging to manoeuvre such legislation.

The reduction in the BJP’s majority also implies that the ruling party might need to engage in more extensive consultations and negotiations with both its alliance partners and the opposition to secure the passage of its legislative agenda. This could lead to a slowdown in the legislative process, but also potentially result in more thoroughly vetted and widely acceptable legislation.

Further, even though the NDA is still the largest bloc in the Rajya Sabha, with 114 of the 245 seats, it does not have a majority. This could hinder its ability to push through legislation, especially if it is contentious, as the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, with 88 seats, is substantial enough to block bills if unified.

The presence of Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition suggests that the Congress and its allies in the INDIA alliance will be better positioned to scrutinise, debate and potentially influence legislation more effectively than in previous sessions. This is expected to lead to a more balanced and perhaps contentious parliamentary environment.

In his role as the Leader of the Opposition, Gandhi will influence the selection process for significant bureaucratic positions. He is entitled to participate in various important committees such as those on Public Accounts, Public Undertakings and Estimates, as well as several Joint Parliamentary Committees.

The Leader of the Opposition is primarily responsible for holding the government accountable for its actions and decisions. Representing the views of those who may not support the government, the Leader of the Opposition ensures that these views are articulated in parliament.

During the election campaign, Gandhi was vocal about several critical issues such as economic disparities, social justice and the need for more inclusive governance. His campaign revolved around a spirited and aggressive approach that aimed at directly engaging with diverse sections of society to gauge and respond to their concerns.

As the Leader of the Opposition, he is likely to continue advocating strongly on these fronts, challenging the government’s policies where he sees gaps and proposing alternatives.