Opposition in Lok Sabha

41. Consider the following statements:
1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party.
2. In the Lok Sabha, a “Leader of the Opposition” was recognised for the first time in 1969.
3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party does not have a minimum of 75 members, its leader cannot be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b) 2 only
Explanation:-

• 1952 elections The Congress had won 364 out of 489 Lok Sabha seats in the first-ever general election held in India. Its vote share was 45 per cent. The CPI was the second party with just 16 seats.
• The Swatantra Party was an Indian liberal-conservative political party that existed from 1959 to 1974
• Leader of opposition was recognized for the first time in 1969.
• To become leader of opposition, a political party needs atleast 10% strength of the house. House total 10% seat means
• Rajya Sabha 245 25 (10%)
• Lok Sabha 543 55(10%)

Leader of the Opposition

•   In each House of Parliament, there is the ‘Leader of the Opposition’. The leader of the largest Opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the House is recognised as the leader of the Opposition in that House.

•   The leader of Opposition in the LokSabha and the RajyaSabha were accorded statutory recognition in 1977.

•   They are also entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.

• Statement 1 is incorrect:  CPI was the party in opposition, led by Comrade Shripad Amrut Dange.  The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory, winning 364 of the 489 seats and 45% of the total votes polled. This was over four times as many votes as the second-largest party, CPI.
• Statement 2 is correct. It was in 1969 that for the first time Leader of Opposition was recognised. It was Ram Subhag Singh.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The post  received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 which 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.  A party needs to have 54 members. (at least 10%)