NEW DELHI: India’s new opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that lawmakers will not be silent, in his first speech since taking office that has been vacant in a decade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s main rival, Gandhi was nominated for the post by opposition MPs to revive the government.
“The government has political power, but the opposition also represents the voice of the people of India,” Gandhi said in a speech in the lower house of parliament as lawmakers from his party supported his table.
“This time the opposition represents the larger voice of the Indian people.”
In the last two parliaments, Gandhi’s once-powerful Congress Party did not find enough seats in the legislature to be elected to the post.
Modi’s first two terms in office resulted in victories for the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BHJ), which allowed his government to negotiate legislation through parliament.
However, BHJ received only 240 seats in this year’s poll, its worst performance in a decade, falling 32 seats short of a majority.
This forced him to rely on his coalition partners to form a 293-seat majority in the 543-seat lower house.
On Monday, Modi, 73, appealed to the opposition to “reconcile” after his election woes.
