Congress can't get Leader of Opposition post: Speaker

In yet another disappointment to the Congress, the Speaker on Tuesday told them that they cannot be offered the Leader of Opposition (LoP) status in Parliament as it does not have the required number of seats.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan reportedly communicated the decision to Congress leaders at a function on Monday. A party needs a minimum of 10 percent seats in the Lok Sabha to be considered for the LoP post.

The Congress has been clamouring for the position ever since it lost the General Elections in May this year. The Grand Old Party of India was reduced to a miniscule 44 seats in the Lower House in its worst poll performance ever.

The party, however, was dismissive of the news. "I have not been informed about this. But if the reports are true, then all that I have to say is that it has been a tradition in Lok Sabha that the largest party in the House is given the post of the LoP. We will look into it and respond to this accordingly," party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said.