As Congress President Rahul Gandhi is reluctant to take any responsibility of the party leadership, the Congress party on Wednesday named five-time MP from West Bengal Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as the leader of the party in the Lok Sabha.
According to the reports, the decision was taken during a strategy meeting chaired by Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi after senior leaders failed to convince Rahul Gandhi to take up the post.
A letter has been written to Lok Sabha by the Congress party stating that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury would be the leader of the single largest party from the opposition and represents the party at all important select committees.
The Congress party had to choose a new Lok Sabha leader following the defeat of its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the Lok Sabha elections, who was the leader of the Congress party in the 16th Lok Sabha.
The decision to select Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is set to irk West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as Chowdhury is a fierce critic of her. The Congress party’s decision will create further aversion between Mamata Banerjee and the Congress party as the grand old party looks to revive its organisation in the state.
Prime Minister Modi had even praised Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, calling him a ‘fighter’ at the all-party meeting held on Sunday ahead of the start of the 17th Lok Sabha, in an apparent reference to his fight with Mamata Banerjee in WB.
The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections saw the Congress securing winning in just 52 seats, three short of the number required for the post of Leader of Opposition(LOP) in the Lok Sabha.