No decision yet on leader of opposition: Sumitra Mahajan

The decision on appointment of leader of  opposition in the Lok Sabha would be taken after taking into consideration precedents in the case, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said Friday.

The Congress, the main opposition party, has been truncated to just 44 seats in the house of 545 this time.

Whether the Congress is eligible for getting leader of opposition status is not clear yet.
To be recognised as the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha, a party needs to have won 10 percent of the total 543 elected seats, which means a party with 54 seats will get the recognition.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, earlier this week, nominated Mallikarjun Kharge as leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha  since Rahul Gandhi was reluctant to lead.

"We will take a decision. It will be decided after taking into consideration precedents in the case," Mahajan said at a press conference shortly after being elected unopposed the speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha.

Thanking members of the Lok Sabha for electing her unopposed, Mahajan said: "I consider it a great responsibility."

"On the one hand, the ruling party has absolute majority and on the other hand, there are smaller parties who also want to be heard," she said.

"I have to ensure that everybody gets an opportunity," she said, adding she wanted "efficiency" of parliament to increase.

"Qualitative discussion is also important. We will try to organise a training course for new MPs," she added.