When a Member of Lok Sabha qualified to be appointed as Leader of Opposition (LoP) ? (This is a Question in GS II Paper CS Mains,1981)

 When a Member of Lok Sabha qualified to be appointed as Leader of Opposition (LoP) ? 

(This is  a Question in GS II Paper CS Mains,1981)

Why LoP in the Lok Sabha, a position was left vacant for the past 10 years? (Clue: Because no Opposition Party met the minimum strength criteria i.e., 10% MP in Lok Sabha for the post ) 

"The leader of the largest opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the Lok Sabha is recognised as the Leader of Opposition. 

He/She will be a membe of crucial committees such as Public Accounts Committee (Chairman), Public Undertakings Committee, Estimates Committee and several Joint Parliamentary Committees.

He provides constructive criticism of the government policiies and  provides an alternative government 

Ans: Any opposition party has to manage to cross the figure of 54 (10% of the Lok Sabha's strength) is needed to stake claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha .

Suggested answer in the present context (2024)i.e., 18th Lok Sabha (LoP):

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has assumed the role of the Leader of Opposition (LoP)  in the lower House of the Parliament – a position that lay vacant for a decade since no singular party had numbers equalling a tenth of the total strength of the Lok Sabha which has conventionally been the requirement to lay claim to the post.

Since the Opposition in the Indian Parliament comprises multiple parties with divergent ideologies and agendas, the role of the LoP is fraught with challenges.

The move to make Rahul Gandhi, who is arguably the Congress' most popular face, the Leader of the Opposition is also being seen as a step in that direction because this is the first time since 2014 that any opposition party has managed to cross the figure of 54 (10% of the Lok Sabha's strength) needed to stake claim to the post. Besides getting a cabinet rank, the Leader of the Opposition post will enable Mr Gandhi to strongly take up the issues of the people and the INDIA bloc at a time when the opposition parties are at their strongest in a decade. 

As the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Gandhi will be part of key panels -  or statutory bodies like those to select Election Commissioners and the CBI director,NHRC Chairperson, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Central Information Commision, and the Lok Pal - along with the Prime Minister. The constitutional post will also give him an opportunity to call on visiting heads of state to give his perspective on national issues.

As a Leader of Opposition (LoP), Mr. Gandhi will also enjoy the rank of a Cabinet Minister and gets an office and staff in the Parliament building. 

According to the government booklet available in the Parliament Library, "The Leader of Opposition occupies a seat in the front row left to the Chair. He/She enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occaions like escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum and seat in the front row at the time time of Address by the President to both the Houses of Parliament. 

An LoP geta a salary and has several facilities and amenities at his/her disposal under the Salary and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. 

Mr.Rahul Gandhi, as LoP will get a salary of Rs.3.3 Lakh. He will also get security a the level of a Cabinet Minister. He will get a government bungalow similar to that of a Cabinet Minister. 

"Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) wrote a letter to Pro-Tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, informing him of the decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Other office bearers will be decided later," senior party leader KC Venugopal said.

The INDIA alliance, which has the Samajwadi Party, the Trinamool Congress and the DMK as the other major constituents in terms of strength in the Lok Sabha, managed to win 232 seats against the BJP's 240 and the NDA's 293.