Who will be next Lok Sabha Speaker? NDA, INDIA bloc try to reach consensus, Opposition wants Dy Speaker post

On June 24, the new Lok Sabha is scheduled to convene, and on Monday and Tuesday, the newly elected members will take the oath of office.

On June 26, the newly elected Lok Sabha is scheduled to select a Speaker. The ruling and opposition coalitions are attempting to come to an agreement regarding the position of the chief justice.

The opposition parties agree with the NDA’s proposal for a consensus candidate, but they also point out that the opposition should be offered the position of deputy speaker in accordance with tradition.

The allies will accept a BJP choice, but only after consultations, according to NDA sources. The TDP has backed an NDA candidate, but the JD(U) has already declared that it will back the BJP’s choice. “The TDP, however, will not impose anyone if a consensus is reached. We will follow the NDA’s broader consensus about the Speaker’s nomination at the meeting,” a TDP source stated.

“We will not be asking for the position of Speaker or Deputy Speaker. In any case, our MP is the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House, a top JD(U) leader stated.

According to sources, the Congress anticipates that the ruling party will “offer the post of Deputy Speaker,” which is the convention, despite the opinion of many in the opposition that the parties should “reserve” their energy to challenge the government on “matters on which they can send strong messages” and “play as a check on the treasury benches.”

Following a Sunday meeting between senior BJP ministers and its NDA allies, Kiren Rijiju, the recently appointed Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, met Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress. Sources claim that there was no conversation about the meeting’s presiding officers, nevertheless.

Without a contest, party MPs Sumitra Mahajan and Om Birla were chosen Speaker of the Lok Sabha in both 2014 and 2019, when the BJP held an absolute majority in the legislature. The Deputy Speaker position was held by M. Thambi Durai of the AIADMK in the 16th Lok Sabha, however it was not filled in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The position of Deputy Speaker was extended to BJP MPs Charanjit Singh Atwal and Kariya Munda in 2004 and 2009, respectively, during the two terms of the Congress-led UPA.

Government sources stated that the government did not wish to have a “confrontation” with the opposition regarding the Speaker or Deputy Speaker position. “But everything depends on how the Opposition responds to our overtures,” remarked an official.

Since Birla is the first Speaker to successfully contest the Lok Sabha elections after chairing the proceedings since 2004, many party leaders see the possibility of re-nominating him for the position, as the BJP must first discuss names within the NDA and then with the Opposition.

However, D Purandeswari’s name and that of veteran legislator Bhartruhari Mahtab—a seven-term member of Parliament who left the BJD to win this election on a BJP ticket—are also making waves.

“There might also be a surprise. However, a BJP insider stated that the coalition partners will come before the top leadership choices.

The provisional calendar states that the new Lok Sabha will convene on June 24 and that the new members will take office on Monday and Tuesday.

If there is a contest, the election of the Speaker is set for Wednesday, June 26. If there is a unanimous choice, the new Speaker will assume office that same day without a challenge.

On June 27, President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to address the joint session of Parliament; the subsequent days till July 3 are designated for government activity. During these days, the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address is anticipated to be discussed in both Houses.

The pro-tem Speaker will appoint the newly elected Members of Parliament. The most senior MP will normally be appointed as pro-tem Speaker. The most senior MP, Congressman Kodikunnil Suresh, who was elected to a seventh term, is anticipated to take leadership of the proceedings.

Despite the fact that Maneka Gandhi was the most senior member in 2019, sources stated that Veerendra Kumar, a senior BJP MP and current Union Minister, administered the oath to the new MPs while Gandhi was experiencing some discomfort.