In a significant turn of events, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post has become a subject of contention as the INDIA bloc fields K. Suresh, a Congress member, as their candidate for the position. The nomination of K. Suresh for the Speaker post marks the first instance of a contest for the post in over three decades. The ruling NDA has put forward Om Birla as their candidate, setting the stage for a showdown in the Speaker selection process. The election for the Speaker’s post is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
The development comes amidst a series of meetings and negotiations between the government and the Opposition on the issue of the Speaker’s post. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi indicated that the Opposition would extend its support to the government’s Speaker choice if the Deputy Speaker post is offered to them. However, discussions between senior BJP MP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress and DMK representatives failed to yield a consensus candidate for the Speaker position.
Several prominent members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took their oaths during the opening session of the 18th Lok Sabha. The day saw a heated exchange between the PM and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over the imposition of Emergency in 1975. The Opposition, led by the INDIA bloc, staged a protest inside the Parliament complex, raising slogans on ‘saving democracy’ and emphasizing the importance of upholding the Constitution.
The contestation over the Speaker’s post has led to a rift between the government and the Opposition, with both sides holding firm on their stance. Congress leader K. Suresh asserted the Opposition’s right to the Deputy Speaker post, highlighting the historical convention that ensures a balance between the ruling party and the opposition in key positions like Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The developments have underscored the significance of the Speaker’s post and the traditional norms that govern its selection. The election for the Speaker is poised to be a closely watched event, as it signals a departure from the usual consensus-based approach to selecting the Speaker and raises questions about the dynamics of the new Lok Sabha session. As the political landscape evolves, the outcome of the Speaker election will have far-reaching implications for the functioning of the lower House of Parliament.
