Sharad Pawar, President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), announced on Thursday that the Congress will decide the new Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha. He affirmed that the selected candidate would receive full support from the INDIA bloc constituents.
“In the INDIA bloc, Congress has bagged the highest number of seats and would be entitled to the LoP post. Before the Lok Sabha session starting from June 24, the INDIA bloc will have a meeting and finalize the name for the LoP post. We shall endorse the decision,” said Pawar while addressing the media.
Contrary to political speculation, Pawar indicated that the Deputy Speaker position in the Lok Sabha is unlikely to be assigned to the Opposition parties. “Last time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not honour the promise (to give the Deputy Speaker post to the Opposition), though we shall discuss it this time,” he added.
Pawar also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, asserting that public trust in Prime Minister Modi has diminished both in Maharashtra and nationwide. He highlighted the growing disbelief in the ‘Modi Guarantees.’
Regarding the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), Pawar expressed confidence in their prospects for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for October. “In the recent Lok Sabha elections, of the 48 seats, the MVA allies bagged 31 seats. If we calculate the six assembly segments that make up these parliamentary constituencies, then we have secured leads/wins in 155-plus Assembly seats in the Lok Sabha polls. This indicates that the people’s mood is against the Mahayuti,” Pawar stated.
Pawar announced plans to embark on a state-wide tour following the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. He intends to visit each constituency where the MVA allies are set to compete in the Assembly elections, aiming to bolster their campaign and consolidate support.