Rahul Gandhi as the ‘Shadow Prime Minister’!

 

Rahul Gandhi as the ‘Shadow Prime Minister’!

The Opposition INDIA bloc, comprising of some 28 parties, in its meeting held late evening on 25 June 2024 at the residence of the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, reached a consensus that Rahul Gandhi should be the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in Lok Sabha (the lower House of the Indian Parliament). Accordingly, the Congress Party made the announcement and informed the Protem Seaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, who administered the oath to the newly elected members of 18ih Lok Sabha on 24^th and 25^th June. This is the first time, during the past 10 years of Modi regime, that the Lok Sabha   is having a LOP, the single largest party the Congress having been denied that position. 

What an irony the leader most humiliated and ridiculed by the members of the ruling party, expelled from the Parliament on trumped up charges because he was raising inconvenient questions in the House and ousted from the official residence, now not only becomes the voice of the Indian people, particularly that of the poor and marginalized, but also the voice of the united opposition. A leader, who traversed the length and breadth of the country, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from Manipur to Mumbai, covering a distance of more than 10,000 km, is the voice of the people cutting across communities and classes. 

This is the best thing that happened to Indian democracy, post general election 2024. Rahul Gandhi takes the role of a LOP, a constitutional position. He enjoys the rank and perks of a Cabinet Minister - No.2 position after the Prime Minister as per the protocol.   He now becomes the Chairman of all-important Public Accounts Committee that has the primary function of examining CAG reports and   seeking probes from the government. Besides, he would be a member of various collegiums comprising the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India for selection of chiefs of important investigation and transparency agencies, such as Central Bureau of Investigation, Lok Pal, Central Vigilance Commission, Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission members, Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, Chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission etc.

He rightly deserved the position of LOP as he was responsible for not only reviving the congress party, but also brining the alliances partners of INDIA bloc together as a unified group.  His appointment as LOP comes amid heightened acrimony between the NDA and an emboldened Opposition that has 236 MPs in the Lok Sabha, hours after he took the oath as an MP for the fifth consecutive term. His elevation is fitting response to his detractors, particularly Narendra Modi.  He has demonstrated that he is no political greenhouse. He has emerged as a leader facing insurmountable obstacles during the past 10 years, many arm- chair intellectuals and writers wrote obituary for him and his party.

That Rahul Gandhi is humane, sensitive and an emotional person is evident from the letter he wrote to the people of Wayanad on 23 June, after he relinquished its membership from Lok Sabha, having won also the seat from Rai Bareli, which he chose to retain:

You must have seen the sadness in my eyes as I stood in front of the media and told you about my decision. So why am I sad? I met you five years ago.  The first time I visited you, I came for asking your support. I was stranger to you and you believed in me. You embraced me with unconditional love and affection. It did not matter which political formation you supported, it did not matter which community you were from or which religion you believed in or which language you spoke. When I faced abuse day after day, your unconditional love protected me. You were my refuge, my home and my family… I will remember the countless flowers and hugs you gave me. Each one given with genuine love and tenderness. It was truly a joy and an honour to be your voice in Parliament.  I am said, but I am consoled because my sister Priyanka will be there to represent you…My central commitment to both you and the people of Rae Bareli is that we will fight and defeat the hatred and violence being spread in the country.  I do not know how to thank you for what you have done to me. For the love and protection, you gave me when I needed it most, you are part of my family, and I will always be there for each and every one of you.

This finesse and civility make him a rare breed of politicians that only the family that he comes from could produce. His critics do not understand the tradition of struggle, sacrifice and service for the country the Nehru-Gandhi family is known for five generations. That is what the people at large continue to acknowledge and bestow love and affection and repose faith and trust in the family members. It is evident that the new Modi government is not going to give up its bulldozing style of functioning. However, the LOP Rahul Gandhi and the much-strengthened opposition will not allow the government to trample the constitution and democracy any longer.

In England, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, is known as the ‘Shadow Prime Minister’ running a ‘Shadow Cabinet’ to keep check on the functioning of Ministers that keeps them not only on their toes all the time, but also makes the government transparent and accountable. He is ready to form alternative government if the government falls. Nothing stops Rahul Gandhi acting as ‘a Shadow Prime Minister’ and running a ‘Shadow Cabinet’ to expose corruption and scandals of the government and its dictatorial style of working, making it answerable to the people.

Speaking after the election of Om Birla as the Speaker of the House, Rahul said to him to a thunderous applause from the opposition benches: "Speaker Sir, the question is not how efficiently the House is run, the question is how much of India's voice is being allowed to be heard in this House...  the idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of the Opposition is a non-democratic idea... Government has a political power, but opposition also represents the voice of India's people and this time, the Opposition represents significantly more voice of the Indian people. We are confident that by allowing the Opposition to speak to represent the people of India, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution." We can expect fireworks from the resolute Opposition ranks. They have the people’s mandate.