After Rahul refuses, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to be leader of Congress in LS

 

When asked, Chowdhury said the issue of who would lead the Congress in the Lower House of Parliament was not discussed at a meeting of party leaders at Sonia Gandhi's residence. She has also called a meeting of opposition leaders later on Tuesday evening to discuss parliamentary strategy as well as a candidate for Deputy Speaker’s position.  

 

The Congress failed to get the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as it did not get the benchmark 10 per cent seats required to stake claim for the post.

 

'This is the second time in a row that the grand old party has failed to get the post.

 

Chowdhury is a five-time MP from West Bengal and has not lost the Lok Sabha election since 1999.

 

He currently represents the Berhampore Lok Sabha constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

 

Chowdhury has also been a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 1999.

 

He has been the chief of the West Bengal Congress and was also the Minister of State for Railways during the UPA government from 2012 to 2014.

 

Chowdhury's fighting spirit has helped him win the confidence of his party.

 

Mallikarjun Kharge was the leader of the Congress in the previous Lok Sabha, but he lost the election this time, forcing the party to decide on another name.

 

 

Congress has already decided to back NDA nominee Om Birla for speaker of Lok Sabha.