Amid an ongoing war of words between the ruling BJP-led NDA government and opposition parties over the appointment of the Pro-tem Speaker, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday criticized the Central government regarding the Speaker’s post in the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha.
Key Points:
- Ruling Party and Speaker Post:
- Sharad Pawar commented, “We know that the ruling party will get the Speaker post,” indicating the predictable outcome of the appointment.
- Pawar highlighted that historically, the Deputy Speaker post was often given to the opposition, but this tradition has not been upheld during the last ten years of Modi’s government. He expressed doubt that this trend would change.
- Pro-tem Speaker Appointment:
- Seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed by the President as the Pro-tem Speaker. He will administer the oath and affirmation to the newly-elected members of the Lok Sabha and preside over the election of the Speaker during the first three days of the session.
- The President also named K Suresh (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), Radha Mohan Singh, and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP) to assist Mahtab in the process.
- Opposition’s Response:
- Some opposition MPs, including Suresh, Baalu, and Bandyopadhyay, may refuse to join the panel of chairpersons to assist Pro-tem Speaker Mahtab.
- The Congress has accused the government of bypassing procedures and conventions by not appointing eight-term member Suresh as the Pro-tem Speaker.
- Government’s Defense:
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the opposition’s allegations, asserting that the government is committed to the spirit of the constitution and bound by the rules.
- Rijiju emphasized the NDA government’s adherence to PM Narendra Modi’s mantra of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” and criticized the opposition for trying to impose their wishes on the people’s mandate.
Conclusion:
The face-off between the government and the opposition INDIA bloc has already begun even before the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these tensions will affect the parliamentary proceedings and the overall political climate.
