The Congress Party on Thursday met Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan and demanded to grant the post of leader of opposition [LOP] in the Lower House. Mallikarjun Kharge, Jyotiraditya Scindia and two other leaders met Lok Sabha Speaker and submitted a memorandum in which they request for the opposition leader post.

However, the BJP led NDA government is not in favor of granting opposition post to Congress with an aim to avoid 'ask or argue' with the ruling party. Further the NDA government reiterated that any party to get opposition status should get a minimum of 10 percent seats in the House and figure mark is 55 seats. So the government maintains that Congress doesn't have enough seats and it is not entitled for the post. Adding, the government also pointed that Congress party as struck to this norm when they were in power and denied opposition post too.

Congress party argues that this norm has been eclipsed by 'The Salary and Allowances of the Leaders Of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 And Rules Made There under [as amended up to December, 2002]', according to which the single largest 'opposition party' is eligible for the LOP's post. If denied opposition post, the Congress is exploring the option of approaching the court and it is planning to launch a massive attack on the government when the budget sessions resume.

(AW: Vamshi)