Ahead of the start of the first session of the Lok Sabha  after the recent polls on June 24, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said on Thursday that the Congress being an Opposition party with a largest number of seats would decide on the choice the new Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the lower House of Parliament, which all the INDIA block constituents would support.

Talking to media persons in Pune, Pawar said that as an agreement reached among the Opposition parties in the past, the LoP would go to such an opposition party that had the highest number of seats. “Today, the Congress has the maximum seats among opposition parties in Lok Sabha. That being the case, the Congress will decide on the choice of the LoP. After that, the various constituents of the INDIA block will give their consent to the Congress’ choice," the NCP (SP) chief said.   

“Prior to the start of the Lok Sabha session on June 24, the INDIA bloc will meet and finalise the name for the LoP post. We, the other parties from the Opposition will endorse the name chosen by the Congress,” Pawar said.

Of the 543 seats, the ruling BJP won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, while its allies Telugu Desam secured 16 seats and JD(U) 12 seats respectively.

The INDIA bloc bagged 233 seats. Of the 233 seats, the Congress won 99 seats, the Congress bagged 99 seats. Samajwadi Party got 37 seats. while Trinamool Congress and DMK managed to win 29 and 22 seats respectively.  

Pawar expressed serious doubts if the Opposition would succeed in having its man as the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not followed the tradition of giving the Deputy Speaker’s post to the Opposition. A discussion will take place on this point, but I do not expect any fruitful outcome from it".