Chandigarh: Newly appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Punjab, Sunil Jakhar, Monday said his party will play the role of a responsible opposition while keeping the interests of the state`s people in their mind.
"We will play the role of a responsible opposition and keep an eye on the state government`s deeds to ensure that people`s interests are protected", Jakhar, son of former Union Minister Balram Jakhar, told reporters here.
The three-time MLA was picked as CLP leader by the party high command in New Delhi yesterday. He replaces former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who was Leader of the Opposition in the previous assembly.
Jakhar (57), MLA from Abohar, said they will play a "positive and constructive" role as opposition and extend full cooperation to the SAD-BJP regime, which retained power in Punjab in the state assembly elections held on January 30. "We also expect the government to work for betterment of the people of Punjab. We are willing to go to any distance to extend cooperation, but we will raise our voice where ever we feel people`s interests are not being taken care of", said Jakhar, the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly.
On the defeat suffered by the Congress in the polls, which managed to bag 46 seats in the 117-member assembly as against 68 by the SAD-BJP combine, Jakhar said, "we all need to introspect closely". Jakhar has been vocal in raising issues in the past concerning the State.
The first session of the 14th Punjab Vidhan Sabha started here today.
PTI