The race for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker is heating up as the deadline for nominations approaches. The nomination deadline is set for 12 pm on Tuesday, with elections to be held on Wednesday, June 26. This situation could lead to the first-ever elections for the Speaker of the lower house if the opposition INDIA bloc announces a candidate.
Historically, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been chosen by consensus between the ruling party and the opposition since India’s independence. However, this year, the process appears to be more contentious.
While the BJP, the leading party of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has not revealed its candidate, there is speculation that Om Birla, who was the Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, may be in the running again. Another potential contender is Bhartruhari Mahtab, the current pro-tem speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
The nomination process is expected to take place today, with elections following on Wednesday. The INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties, staged a protest in the Parliament premises over the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker. Key Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, participated in this protest, holding copies of the Constitution.
In the previous term, the position of Deputy Speaker remained vacant. Traditionally, this role is given to the opposition, although in 2014, the BJP offered it to its ally, AIADMK’s Thambi Dhurai. It remains to be seen if the INDIA bloc, which has fewer members in the lower house, will push for the Deputy Speaker’s position in the 18th Lok Sabha.
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NK Premachandran, a Lok Sabha MP from the Revolutionary Socialist Party, confirmed that the INDIA bloc intends to field candidates for both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions. He stated that they are open to discussions with the government for a consensus but are prepared to contest if necessary.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began with the swearing-in of new MPs. The election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26 will be followed by an address from President Murmu to a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on June 27.
The NDA holds a majority with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, while the opposition INDIA bloc has 234 MPs.
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