The special session of Parliament will begin on June 24, with the most important agenda item in the form of the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker. This session is primarily for the affirmation of oath for all the elected MPs.
At present, Om Birla is the Lok Sabha Speaker and he has held the post for the past five years. But, before the election takes place, the pro-tem speaker will preside over the House for the first three days till the election. The general practice is to give temporary charge to the senior-most parliamentarian.
“A few names are under consideration. K Suresh from the opposition Congress is the senior-most in Lok Sabha at present. This is his eighth term. Several members of Parliament from the treasury benches include Bhartruhari Mahtab, Radha Mohan, Faggan Singh Kulaste, who are all seven-time members in the Lower House. The decision to appoint the pro-tem speaker is yet to be finalised,” a top source told News18.
According to government sources, leaders will reach out to all political parties, including the opposition, to elect the speaker by consensus. The numbers are comfortable as far as the NDA candidate is concerned. Senior minister and deputy leader of the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh will reach out to all parties for consensus.
There is much tension over the post of deputy speaker. Last time, the Congress was the single largest party in the opposition but short of numbers to get the post of leader of opposition. This time, however, their numbers have doubled.
Sources said the opposition wants to stake claim to the post of deputy speaker but, as far as the BJP is concerned, it is keen on giving the post to one of its allies. After the affirmation of oath to all MPs in the Lok Sabha on June 24 and 25, the process to elect the speaker will start on June 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be proposing the name of the NDA candidate for the Lok Sabha speaker. This motion is expected to be seconded by Union minister Rajnath Singh. Similarly, at least five to six such proposals are expected to be proposed for the candidacy.
“All the alliance partners will make these proposals for the post of Lok Sabha speaker,” a top source told News18. If the opposition proposes another candidate for the post of Lok Sabha speaker, then voting is expected to take place. In case there is no opposition candidate, then the Lok Sabha Speaker will be chosen by an account of hands.
Sources further said NDA allies, including the TDP and JD(U), are in support of a BJP leader as the candidate. “It is pretty possible that the government may want to send a message of continuity in the Lok Sabha as well by nominating the same name or propose a new name like they did with Birla in 2019, despite the fact that he was the youngest MP,” a BJP leader told News18.
After the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26, the prime minister is expected to introduce his Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha. The following day, on June 27, the Rajya Sabha will also resume and President Droupadi Murmu will deliver a joint address to both the Houses of Parliament. This will be followed by a discussion on the motion of thanks.
Modi is expected to reply to this motion of thanks in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on July 2 and 3, which will be the last day for the special session before Parliament reconvenes after a break from July 22 to August 9. The Union Budget will be presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 22.
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