The special session of the National Assembly will begin on June 24, with the most important agenda being the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The session is primarily intended to confirm the oath of all elected members of the National Assembly.
Currently, Om Birla is the Speaker of the Indian Parliament, a position he has held for the past five years. However, before elections are held, a temporary Speaker presides over Parliament for the first three days before the elections. Usually, the senior-most member of Parliament is given temporary responsibility.
“Several names are under consideration. K Suresh of the opposition Indian National Congress party is currently the senior-most member of the Indian Lok Sabha. This will be his eighth term. There are several members of the Finance Ministry, including Bharthariya Mahtab, Radha Mohan and Fagan Singh Kulaste, who have served in the Lok Sabha seven times. The appointment of a caretaker Speaker is yet to be finalised,” a well-placed source told News18.
According to government sources, leaders will reach out to all political parties, including the opposition, and select the Speaker by consensus. As for the NDA candidate, the numbers are sufficient. Senior minister and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh will reach out to all political parties to reach a consensus.
Tensions are building over the post of vice-chairman. Last time, the Indian National Congress was the largest opposition party but did not have enough members to get the post of Leader of the Opposition. This time, its numbers have doubled.
Sources said the Opposition parties want to claim the post of Deputy Speaker but the BJP is keen to give it to one of its allies. After all members are sworn in in the Lower House on June 24 and 25, the process of selecting the Speaker will begin on June 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to propose the names of NDA candidates to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The motion is likely to be seconded by Union Minister Rajnath Singh. Similarly, at least five to six candidates are expected to be proposed for the nomination.
“All the alliance partners will be running for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker,” a top source told News18. If the Opposition fields a separate candidate for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, voting is expected to take place. In the absence of an Opposition candidate, the Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected through a show of hands poll.
Sources said the NDA alliance, which also includes the TDP and JD(U), is backing a BJP leader as its candidate. “It is quite possible that the government wants to send a message of continuity in the House by nominating the same name or proposing a new one, as it did with Birla in 2019, despite him being the youngest MP,” a BJP leader told News18.
After the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected on June 26, the Prime Minister is scheduled to present the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha. The Upper House will also resume the following day on June 27, with Speaker Drupadi Murmu set to address both Houses jointly. A debate on the Motion of Thanks will then take place.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to reply to the motion of thanks in the Indian Lok Sabha and the Indian Senate on July 2 and 3, the last days of the special session before Parliament resumes after a recess from July 22 to August 9. The Union Budget is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 22.
