New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS): The government Thursday introduced a bill to amend the Lokpal and Lokyuktas Act which will pave the way for inclusion of the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha as a member of the panel to select the chairperson and members of the anti-corruption body.

Under the existing act, the Leader of Opposition is included in the panel but there is no such leader in the current Lok Sabha, with the Congress falling short of the mandatory number of seats to get the status of Leader of Opposition.

The amendment will pave the way for Congress leader of the house Mallikarjun Kharge to be a member of the panel.

The selection committee is led by the prime minister and consists of the Lok Sabha speaker, the chief justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him and an eminent jurist, who could be nominated by the president or any other member, besides the opposition leader.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced by Minister for Personnel Jitendra Singh.