📷 Image Credits: NDTV
The first session of Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections began today, with the newly-elected MPs – including Prime Minister Narendra Modi – taking oath. BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was first administered the oath as the Pro-Tem Speaker by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will now call upon the Prime Minister to take oath as a member of the House. About 280 newly-elected MPs will take oath today, while the remaining 260 parliamentarians, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, will take oath tomorrow.
Ahead of the key Parliament session, PM Modi hit out at the Congress and called the Emergency a “blot” on democracy, urging for substantive debates over mere slogans. The controversy over the appointment of seven-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the Pro-Tem Speaker has already sparked tensions. Traditionally, the post of Pro Tem Speaker goes to the senior most member of parliament, making the choice of Mahtab over Kodikunnil Suresh, a Dalit leader and an eight-time MP from Kerala, a point of contention.
Furthermore, the Lok Sabha Speaker election is scheduled for June 26. Until then, the Pro-Tem Speaker will oversee the proceedings and conduct the election for the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reveal the new Speaker’s name, likely a BJP pick, two days after the first sitting of the 18th Lok Sabha. The opposition is geared to address the alleged irregularities in competitive exams NEET and NET, following recent developments where National Testing Agency Director General Subodh Singh was replaced by the government.
Adding to the concerns, a stringent law has been activated to tackle malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations, including penalties of up to 10 years in jail and fines up to Rs 1 crore for offenders. The Congress has already voiced its displeasure over the exam fiasco, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has vowed to pursue justice for affected students through parliamentary action.
As the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha unfolds, President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27, possibly outlining the new government’s upcoming agenda for the next five years. This session is expected to convene until July 3, with important discussions on NEET and NET issues along with the Speaker election anticipated to shape the parliamentary debates.
