The role of Leader of Opposition is very challenging for Rahul Gandhi, allies should support him: Congress
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that Rahul Gandhi has become the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha in very challenging circumstances and the opposition parties should strengthen his hands to take on the ruling NDA.
Congress Working Committee member, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and former Union Minister Harish Rawat, while talking to ETV Bharat, said that ‘This is a very challenging time when Rahul Gandhi has become the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. The Constitution, public institutions and democracy in the country are in danger. Rahul Gandhi will prove to be a good opposition leader, but other opposition parties should strengthen his hands and unite to take on the ruling NDA.’
Rawat, who was the Congress whip in the Lok Sabha during the tenure of then opposition leader Rajiv Gandhi in 1989, reminded that the former Prime Minister had decided to sit in the opposition despite having the ability to form a coalition government, as he believed that the public mandate had reduced the number of seats of the party from the historic 400 in 1984 to below 200 in 1989.
Rawat said that ‘Rajiv Gandhi could have easily become the Prime Minister again by forming a coalition, but he respected the mandate and decided to sit in the opposition. I learned a lot about parliamentary work and strategy during his tenure. He proved to be a very effective opposition leader and coordinated the responsibilities of the House and the party very well. Inside the House, he exposed the then government on many occasions.’
Rawat said that ‘Now, when I see Rahul Gandhi becoming the leader of the opposition, it is a very emotional moment for me. I wish him good health, but I should also keep in mind that the road ahead is not going to be easy for him. Therefore, they should be cautious and effectively coordinate their roles in the House and the party.
Rawat said, ‘Late Rajiv Gandhi brought forward many youths like me and now Rahul Gandhi should also prepare a crop of young leaders who can become assets to the party in future.’ The former Union minister said that a strong opposition in the Lok Sabha would mean that the ruling NDA would not be able to work openly like it has done since 2014, but would have to work under parliamentary checks and balances.
Rawat said, ‘The NDA is not going to change overnight. We have seen how they ran the Parliament in the last decade. But now things are different. A strong and united opposition will definitely curb the NDA. The opposition will have to raise people’s issues in the House and ensure that the government is accountable.’
He said, ‘Once Priyanka Gandhi also joins Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, I think both will become a deadly combination that will give a tough fight to the NDA. Apart from this, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav is also in the House and is increasing the strength of the opposition along with Rahul and Priyanka. The CWC member said that although Protem Speaker B Mahtab declared BJP’s Om Birla elected as the Speaker of the new Lok Sabha by voice vote, the stature of the opposition candidate K Suresh has also increased inside the Parliament. Rawat said that ‘K Suresh is an MP for eight times. He is an experienced Congressman and a very respected MP. I think his stature has increased a lot in the new House. I am sure that he will play an important role in taking forward the agenda of the opposition inside the House.’
