List of leaders of the opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly explained

Post:Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly
Insignia:Seal of Punjab.svg
Insigniasize:90px
Insigniacaption:Emblem of Punjab
Incumbentsince:9 April 2022
Termlength:Five years,
No restriction on renewal
Appointer:Speaker of Punjab assembly
Nominator:Members of Official Opposition
Deputy:Vacant
Formation:6 April 1937; ago
Inaugural:Gopi Chand Bhargava
Flagcaption:Banner of Punjab
Flag:Banner of Punjab, India.svg

The Leader of the Opposition is the politician who leads the official opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.

Official Opposition

Official Opposition[1] is a term used in Punjab Legislative Assembly to designate the political party which has secured the second largest number of seats Punjab assembly. In order to get formal recognition, the party must have at least 10% of total membership of the Legislative Assembly. A single party has to meet the 10% seat criterion, not an alliance. Many of the Indian state legislatures also follows this 10% rule while the rest of them prefer single largest opposition party according to the rules of their respective houses. Punjab Legislative Assembly appointed the member of the second largest party as Leader of opposition.[2]

Role

The Opposition's main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. The Opposition is equally responsible in upholding the best interests of the people of the country. They have to ensure that the Government does not take any steps, which might have negative effects on the people of the country.[3]

The role of the opposition in legislature is basically to check the excesses of the ruling or dominant party, and not to be totally antagonistic. There are actions of the ruling party which may be beneficial to the masses and opposition is expected to support such steps.[4]

In legislature, Opposition Party has a major role and must act to discourage the party in power from acting against the interests of the country and the common man. They are expected to alert the population and the Government on the content of any Bill, which is not in the best interests of the country.

Color keys

Color keys for the party of leaders of the opposition

List of leaders of the opposition

Before independence (1937-1947)

Name
PortraitTenurePartyAssembly
Before independence
1Gopi Chand Bhargava
5 April 1937 1940Indian National Congress1st
2Bhim Sen Sachar
1940 5 February 1945
-Vacant
5 February 194521 March 1946--
3Iftikhar Hussain Khan
21 March 1946 2 March 1947All-India Muslim League2nd
-Vacant
2 March 194715 August 1947--

After independence

(Punjab, Haryana and Himachal) (1947–1966)
Name
PortraitTenurePartyAssembly
-Vacant
15 August 1947 17 April 1952-Interim Assembly
1Gopal Singh khalsa
17 April 1952 11 April 1956Shiromani Akali Dal1st
-Vacant
11 April 19569 April 1957-
2Baldev Prakash
9 April 1957 11 March 1962Bharatiya Jana Sangh2nd
3Gurnam Singh
11 March 1962 5 July 1966Shiromani Akali Dal3rd
-Vacant
5 July 1966 1 November 1966
Since 1966 (Punjab)
Gurnam Singh
1 November 1966 8 March 1967Shiromani Akali Dal3rd
4Gian Singh Rarewala
9 March 1967 24 November 1967Indian National Congress4th
Gurnam Singh
24 November 1967 23 August 1968Akali Dal - Sant Fateh Singh
-Vacant
23 August 1968 17 February 1969--
5Major Harinder Singh
17 February 1969 14 June 1971Indian National Congress5th
-Vacant
14 June 1971 16 March 1972--
6Jaswinder Singh Brar
16 March 1972 2 October 1972Shiromani Akali Dal6th
7Prakash Singh Badal
2 October 1972 30 April 1977
-Vacant
30 April 1977 19 June 1977--
8Balram Jakhar
19 June 1977 17 February 1980Indian National Congress7th
-Vacant
17 February 1980 7 June 1980--
Prakash Singh Badal
7 June 1980 7 October 1983Shiromani Akali Dal8th
-Vacant
7 October 1983 29 September 1985--
9Gurbinder Kaur Brar
29 September 1985 11 May 1987Indian National Congress9th
-Vacant
11 May 1987 25 February 1992--
10Satnam Singh Kainth
25 February 1992 12 February 1997Bahujan Samaj Party10th
11Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
12 February 1997 10 October 1998Indian National Congress11th
12Chaudhary Jagjit Singh
10 October 1998 26 February 2002
Prakash Singh Badal
26 February 2002 1 March 2007Shiromani Akali Dal12th
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
1 March 2007 14 March 2012Indian National Congress13th
13Sunil Kumar Jakhar
14 March 2012 11 December 201514th
14Charanjit Singh Channi
11 December 2015 11 November 2016
-Vacant
11 November 2016 16 March 2017-
15Harvinder Singh Phoolka
16 March 2017 9 July 2017Aam Aadmi Party15th
16Sukhpal Singh Khaira
9 July 2017 26 July 2018
17Harpal Singh Cheema
27 July 2018 16 March 2022
18Partap Singh Bajwa
9 April 2022IncumbentIndian National Congress16th

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. 1 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20100116211914/http://mpa.nic.in/actopp.htm. 16 January 2010.
  2. http://www.bareactslive.com/Pun/PU567.HTM Salary and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Act 1978
  3. http://www.elections.in/political-corner/role-opposition-party-parliament/ Role of Leader of Opposition in India
  4. http://www.politicalsciencenotes.com/parliament/opposition/role-of-opposition-in-parliament-india/976 Role of Opposition in Parliament of India