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

The Leader of the Opposition is the politician who leads the official opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically seen as an alternative prime minister, premier, first minister, or chief minister to the incumbent; in the Westminster system, they head a rival alternative government known as the shadow cabinet or opposition front bench. The same term is also used to refer to the leader of the largest political party that is not in government in subnational state, provincial, and other regional and local legislatures.

## Official Opposition

Official Opposition 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.

## 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.
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.
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
* Aam Aadmi Party
* Akali Dal - Sant Fateh Singh Group
* All-India Muslim League
* Bahujan Samaj Party
* Bharatiya Jana Sangh
* Indian National Congress
* Shiromani Akali Dal
Other keys
* Vancacy due to dissolution of assembly
* Vancacy due to absence of opposition in assembly
* Vancacy due to suspension of assembly

## List of leaders of the opposition
### Before independence (1937–1947)

| S.No. | S.No. | Portrait | Name (birth-death) (Constituency) | Tenure | Tenure | Party | Election | Government | Government | Government |
| S.No. | S.No. | Portrait | Name (birth-death) (Constituency) | Took office | Left office | Party | Election | Premier | Party | Party |
| 1 | | | Gopi Chand Bhargava (1899–1966) (Lahore City) | 5 April 1937 | 1940 | Indian National Congress | 1937 | Sikandar Hayat Khan (1937–1942) Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana (1942–1945) | Unionist Party | |
| 2 | | | Bhim Sen Sachar (1894–1978) (N-W Town) | 1940 | 5 February 1945 | Indian National Congress | 1937 | Sikandar Hayat Khan (1937–1942) Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana (1942–1945) | Unionist Party | |
| – | – | Vacant (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (Assembly under dissolution) | 5 February 1945 | 21 March 1946 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | | | Iftikhar Hussain Khan (1906–1969) (Ferozpur General) | 21 March 1946 | 2 March 1947 | All-India Muslim League | 1946 | Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana | Unionist Party | |
| – | – | Vacant (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (Assembly under dissolution) | 2 March 1947 | 15 August 1947 | - | - | - | - | - |

### After independence (1947–till now)

| S.No. | S.No. | Portrait | Name (birth-death) (Constituency) | Tenure | Tenure | Tenure | Party | Election (Assembly) | Government | Government | Government |
| S.No. | S.No. | Portrait | Name (birth-death) (Constituency) | Took office | Left office | Duration | Party | Election (Assembly) | Chief Minister | Party | Party |
| – | – | Vacant (No official opposition) | Vacant (No official opposition) | 15 August 1947 | 20 June 1951 | 3 years, 309 days | – | 1946 (Interim) | Gopi Chand Bhargava (1947–1949) (1949–1951) Bhim Sen Sachar (Ap. 1949-Oct. 1949) | Indian National Congress | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 20 June 1951 | 17 April 1952 | 302 days | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | | | Gopal Singh Khalsa (1903–1979) (Jagraon) | 17 April 1952 | 11 April 1956 | 3 years, 360 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1952 (First) | Bhim Sen Sachar (1952–1956) Partap Singh Kairon (1956–1964) | Indian National Congress | |
| – | – | Vacant (No official opposition) | Vacant (No official opposition) | 11 April 1956 | 9 April 1957 | 363 days | – | 1952 (First) | Bhim Sen Sachar (1952–1956) Partap Singh Kairon (1956–1964) | Indian National Congress | |
| 2 | | | Baldev Prakash (1922–1992) (Amritsar City East) | 9 April 1957 | 11 March 1962 | 4 years, 336 days | Bharatiya Jana Sangh | 1957 (Second) | Partap Singh Kairon | Indian National Congress | |
| 3 | | | Gurnam Singh (1899–1973) (Raikot) | 11 March 1962 | 5 July 1966 | 4 years, 116 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1962 (Third) | Partap Singh Kairon (1956–1964) Gopi Chand Bhargava (1964) Ram Kishan (1964–1966) | Indian National Congress | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under suspension) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under suspension) | 5 July 1966 | 1 November 1966 | 119 days | – | 1962 (Third) | – | – | – |
| (3) | | | Gurnam Singh (1899–1973) (Raikot) | 1 November 1966 | 8 March 1967 | 127 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1962 (Third) | Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir | Indian National Congress | |
| 4 | | | Gian Singh Rarewala (1901–1979) (Payal) | 9 March 1967 | 24 November 1967 | 260 days | Indian National Congress | 1967 (Fourth) | Gurnam Singh | Akali Dal – Sant Fateh Singh Group | |
| (3) | | | Gurnam Singh (1899–1973) (Qila Raipur) | 24 November 1967 | 23 August 1968 | 273 days | Akali Dal – Sant Fateh Singh Group | 1967 (Fourth) | Lachhman Singh | Punjab Janata Party | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 23 August 1968 | 17 February 1969 | 178 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | | | Harinder Singh (1917–1972) (Ajnala) | 17 February 1969 | 14 June 1971 | 2 years, 117 days | Indian National Congress | 1969 (Fifth) | Gurnam Singh (1969–1970) Parkash Singh Badal (1970–1971) | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 14 June 1971 | 16 March 1972 | 276 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | | | Jaswinder Singh Brar (1938–1993) (Kotkapura) | 16 March 1972 | 2 October 1972 | 200 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1972 (Sixth) | Zail Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| 7 | | | Parkash Singh Badal (1927–2023) (Gidderbaha) | 2 October 1972 | 30 April 1977 | 4 years, 210 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1972 (Sixth) | Zail Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 30 April 1977 | 19 June 1977 | 50 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | | | Balram Jakhar (1923–2016) (Abohar) | 19 June 1977 | 17 February 1980 | 2 years, 243 days | Indian National Congress | 1977 (Seventh) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 17 February 1980 | 7 June 1980 | 111 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| (7) | | | Parkash Singh Badal (1927–2023) (Gidderbaha) | 7 June 1980 | 7 October 1983 | 3 years, 122 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 1980 (Eighth) | Darbara Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 7 October 1983 | 29 September 1985 | 1 year, 357 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | | | Gurbinder Kaur Brar (1922–2013) (Muktsar) | 29 September 1985 | 11 May 1987 | 1 year, 224 days | Indian National Congress | 1985 (Ninth) | Surjit Singh Barnala | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| – | – | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | Vacant (President's rule) (Assembly under dissolution) | 11 May 1987 | 25 February 1992 | 4 years, 290 days | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | | | Satnam Singh Kainth (1961–2018) (Phillaur) | 25 February 1992 | 12 February 1997 | 4 years, 353 days | Bahujan Samaj Party | 1992 (Tenth) | Beant Singh (1992–1995) Harcharan Singh Brar (1995–1996) Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (1996–1997) | Indian National Congress | |
| 11 | | | Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (b. 1945) (Lehra) | 12 February 1997 | 10 October 1998 | 1 year, 240 days | Indian National Congress | 1997 (Eleventh) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| 12 | | | Jagjit Singh (1934–2015) (Kartarpur) | 10 October 1998 | 26 February 2002 | 3 years, 139 days | Indian National Congress | 1997 (Eleventh) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| (7) | | | Parkash Singh Badal (1927–2023) (Lambi) | 26 February 2002 | 1 March 2007 | 5 years, 3 days | Shiromani Akali Dal | 2002 (Twelfth) | Amarinder Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| (11) | | | Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (b. 1945) (Lehra) | 1 March 2007 | 14 March 2012 | 5 years, 13 days | Indian National Congress | 2007 (Thirteen) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| 13 | | | Sunil Kumar Jakhar (b. 1954) (Abohar) | 19 March 2012 | 11 December 2015 | 3 years, 267 days | Indian National Congress | 2012 (Fourteen) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| 14 | | | Charanjit Singh Channi (b. 1963) (Chamkaur Sahib) | 11 December 2015 | 11 November 2016 | 336 days | Indian National Congress | 2012 (Fourteen) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| – | – | Vacant (No official opposition) | Vacant (No official opposition) | 11 November 2016 | 16 March 2017 | 125 days | – | 2012 (Fourteen) | Parkash Singh Badal | Shiromani Akali Dal | |
| 15 | | | Harvinder Singh Phoolka (b. 1955) (Dakha) | 16 March 2017 | 9 July 2017 | 115 days | Aam Admi Party | 2017 (Fifteen) | Amarinder Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| 16 | | | Sukhpal Singh Khaira (b. 1965) (Bolath) | 9 July 2017 | 26 July 2018 | 1 year, 17 days | Aam Admi Party | 2017 (Fifteen) | Amarinder Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| 17 | | | Harpal Singh Cheema (b. 1974) (Dirba) | 27 July 2018 | 16 March 2022 | 3 years, 232 days | Aam Admi Party | 2017 (Fifteen) | Amarinder Singh (2017–2021) Charanjit Singh Channi (2021–2022) | Indian National Congress | |
| 18 | | | Pratap Singh Bajwa (b. 1957) (Quadian) | 9 April 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 344 days | Indian National Congress | 2022 (Sixteen) | Bhagwant Mann | Aam Admi Party | |

## Statistics
### List of leader of the opposition by their tenure

| # | Chief Minister | Total terms | Party | Party | Term of office | Term of office |
| # | Chief Minister | Total terms | Party | Party | Longest continuous term | Total duration of leadership |
| 1 | Parkash Singh Badal | 3 | | SAD | 5 years, 3 days | 12 years, 335 days |
| 2 | Rajinder Kaur Bhattal | 2 | | INC | 5 years, 13 days | 6 years, 253 days |
| 3 | Gurnam Singh | 3 | | SAD/ADSFG | 4 years, 116 days | 5 years, 148 days |
| 4 | Satnam Singh Kainth | 1 | | BSP | 4 years, 353 days | 4 years, 353 days |
| 5 | Baldev Prakash | 1 | | ABJS | 4 years, 336 days | 4 years, 336 days |
| 6 | Gopal Singh Khalsa | 1 | | SAD | 3 years, 360 days | 3 years, 360 days |
| 7 | Sunil Kumar Jakhar | 1 | | INC | 3 years, 267 days | 3 years, 267 days |
| 8 | Harpal Singh Cheema | 1 | | AAP | 3 years, 232 days | 3 years, 232 days |
| 9 | Jagjit Singh | 1 | | INC | 3 years, 139 days | 3 years, 139 days |
| 10 | Pratap Singh Bajwa* | 1* | | INC | 2 years, 344 days* | 2 years, 344 days* |
| 11 | Balram Jakhar | 1 | | INC | 2 years, 243 days | 2 years, 243 days |
| 12 | Harinder Singh | 1 | | INC | 2 years, 117 days | 2 years, 117 days |
| 13 | Gurbinder Kaur Brar | 1 | | INC | 1 year, 224 days | 1 year, 224 days |
| 14 | Sukhpal Singh Khaira | 1 | | AAP | 1 year, 17 days | 1 year, 17 days |
| 15 | Charanjit Singh Channi | 1 | | INC | 336 days | 336 days |
| 16 | Gian Singh Rarewala | 1 | | INC | 260 days | 260 days |
| 17 | Jaswinder Singh Brar | 1 | | SAD | 200 days | 200 days |
| 18 | Harvinder Singh Phoolka | 1 | | AAP | 115 days | 115 days |
| – | Vacant (No official opposition) | 3 | – | – | 3 years, 309 days | 5 years, 67 days |
| – | President rule | 8 | – | – | 4 years, 259 days | 9 years, 223 days |

## Deputy leader of the opposition

| Name (constituency) | Tenure | Tenure | Party | Leader of Opposition | Assembly |
| Rattan Singh (Garshankar) | 9 March 1967 | 24 November 1967 | Indian National Congress | Gian Singh Rarewala | 4th |
| Sardari Lal Kapoor (Ludhiana North) | 17 February 1969 | 1970 | Indian National Congress | Major Harinder Singh | 5th |
| Surjit Singh Atwal (Phillaur) | 1970 | 14 June 1971 | Indian National Congress | Major Harinder Singh | 5th |
| Umrao Singh (Nakodar) | 19 June 1977 | 17 February 1980 | Indian National Congress | Balram Jakhar | 7th |
| Nirmal Singh Nimma (Bhadaur) | 25 February 1992 | 12 February 1997 | Bahujan Samaj Party | Satnam Singh Kainth | 10th |
| Bharat Bhushan Ashu (Ludhiana West) | 11 December 2015 | 11 November 2016 | Indian National Congress | Charanjit Singh Channi | 14th |
| Sarvjit Kaur Manuke (Jagraon) | 16 March 2017 | 16 March 2022 | Aam Admi Party | Harvinder Singh Phoolka, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Harpal Singh Cheema | 15th |
| Raj Kumar Chabbewal (Chabbewal) | 9 April 2022 | 15 March 2024 | Indian National Congress | Partap Singh Bajwa | 16th |
| Aruna Chaudhary (Dinanagar) | 3 September 2024 | Incumbent | Indian National Congress | Partap Singh Bajwa | 16th |