After negotiations between the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition's INDIA bloc failed, Congressman Kodikunnil Suresh and BJP MP Om Birla submitted their candidacies for the Lok Sabha Speaker election on Tuesday. This marks the first time in history that the Speaker's position will be contested in the Lok Sabha.
Historically, elections for the Speaker of the lower house of Parliament in India have never been held. Since independence, the ruling party and the opposition have collaborated to choose the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. This cooperative approach has ensured consensus and avoided the need for electoral contests for these positions.
The opposition agreed to support Om Birla for the Speaker's post on the condition that the ruling NDA alliance would allocate the Deputy Speaker's position to a member of the INDIA bloc. However, these negotiations appear to be faltering.
What Happened During the Meeting?
Earlier today, Rajnath Singh, a senior BJP leader and cabinet minister, reached out to the opposition. However, just minutes before the nomination deadline, TR Baalu of the DMK and Congressman KC Venugopal exited Singh's office, declining to support the NDA's candidate.
Later, KC Venugopal remarked that the government was not committed to offering the Deputy Speaker position to the opposition.
Also Read: 18th Lok Sabha Session: Key Highlights of Narendra Modi Speech
NDA’s Stance on the Matter
"They said we should first decide on the Deputy Speaker's name, and then they would support the Speaker candidate. We condemn such politics. It would have been a good tradition to choose the Speaker unanimously. The Speaker represents the entire House, not any specific party or opposition," stated BJP leader Piyush Goyal.
"Similarly, the Deputy Speaker also represents the whole House and should be chosen with the House's consent. Imposing conditions that the Deputy Speaker must be from a specific party or individual does not align with any tradition of the Lok Sabha," he added.
What did Opposition Say?
The INDIA bloc asserts that K Suresh is the most senior member of parliament. Earlier this month, he secured his seventh victory in the Lok Sabha elections.
As a Kerala-born Dalit leader, the opposition believes he should have been appointed as the Deputy Speaker.
"The Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of constructive cooperation between the Opposition and the Government. While the opposition has clearly stated their support for the Speaker, it is customary for them to be appointed as Deputy Speaker. Rajnath Singh reached out to Mallikarjun Kharge seeking his support for the Speaker, but has yet to follow up,” said Rahul Gandhi on the matter.
He further stated, “PM Modi is advocating for constructive cooperation, yet our leader is being disrespected.”
Timeline of the Lok Sabha Speaker Election
Article 93 of the Constitution governs the election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha:
- On June 24, as the new Lok Sabha session begins, the position of Speaker falls vacant.
- The President appoints a Pro-tem Speaker to administer the oath of office to the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
- The oath-taking ceremony takes place on June 24 and 25, the first two days of the session.
- The election for the new Speaker is scheduled for June 26.
- Nominations for the Speaker must be submitted by June 25.
How is the Speaker Selected?
The Lok Sabha is elected by a simple majority. A candidate must secure more than half of the votes cast by the members present in the House to be chosen as the Speaker.
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation