Who is the Leader of Opposition?

• The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is the Leader of the largest opposition party. 
• The post was not recognised till 1969 when Ram Subhag Singh became the first recognised LoP of the Lok Sabha.
• The post received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
• The Act extends to LoPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha the same official status, allowances and perks that are admissible to Cabinet Ministers.
• The Act defines the term ‘Leader of the Opposition’ as that member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha who, for the time being, is the Leader of that House of the party in Opposition to the government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised, as such, by the chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Who gets the Leader of Opposition post in Lok Sabha?

• The practice has been to recognise the leader of the largest party in Opposition as the LoP provided that party has a strength that is enough to constitute the quorum for a sitting of the House, or one-tenth of the total membership of the House — at present that comes to 55 members. 
• However, no such 10 percent rule for the appointment of the Leader of Opposition is mentioned in the Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act.

How important is the Leader of the Opposition?

• The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is said to be the “shadow Prime Minister with a shadow Cabinet”.
• The Leader of the Opposition will take over the administration if the ruling government resigns or is defeated on the floor of the House.