Congress claims 'principal opposition' status in WB assembly

West Bengal Congress has appealed to the speaker of the state assembly to get the status of principal opposition in the state, claiming it was the “single largest opposition party” after its break-up with Trinamool Congress in the state.

"We have met the speaker. As asked, we are writing to the the speaker claiming the principal opposition status," Congress Legislative party leader in West Bengal Mohammed Shorab said.

The Congress has 42 MLAs while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) has 39 MLAs in the state. However, as a pre-poll alliance, the Left Front, which includes Communist Party of India (CPI),  Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Forward Bloc and other left parties apart from CPI (M), has 62 seats in the assembly.

However, Congress leaders claimed that leader of opposition post should go to single largest party, not the largest alliance.

At present, the Leader of Opposition post is held by Surjya Kanta Mishra of the CPI (M).

Mishra, however, refuted the claim.

"Congress fought the election in an alliance with TMC. Given that, the individual tally of one party can not be the yardstick for main opposition party status," he noted.