NEW DELHI: The deadline for nominations for the Speaker post of the Indian Lok Sabha expires at 12 pm on Tuesday, spurring a protracted battle between the NDA and the opposition. If the Indian side announces its candidate, it will be the first time that an election for Speaker of the Lok Sabha is being held.
Since independence, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha have been elected by consensus between the ruling and opposition parties.
While BJP leaders have remained tight-lipped about candidates, there is speculation that Om Birla, the 17th Speaker of the Lok Sabha, may also contest again.
However, Bhartruhari Mahtab, the current Speaker of the 18th Lower House of India, is also seen as a strong contender for the post.
The nomination process is expected to take place today, with the election set to take place on Wednesday, June 26.
Leaders from various Indian factions protested inside Parliament House in the national capital on Monday, holding copies of the Constitution, as the controversy over the appointment of Bharthar Mahtab as interim Speaker continues.
Indian National Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, party president Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge took part in the protest.
The deputy speaker’s post, which falls vacant during the previous term, is traditionally given to the opposition party. The BJP offered the post to its ally, AIADMK’s Thambi Durai, in 2014.
It will be interesting to see whether the Pro-India Party, which is short of seats in the Lok Sabha, will contest for the post of Deputy Speaker in the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran said the Indian Union plans to field candidates in the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
“We will definitely run for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Let the government express its opinion on whether to hold talks with the Opposition to reach an agreement on Speaker and Deputy Speaker and then we will think. If not we will definitely run,” Premchandran said outside the Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the start of the first session of the 18th Indian Parliament, which began with the taking of oath by new members.
The Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha will be elected on June 26. President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on June 27.
The NDA has a clear majority with 293 seats in the 543-seat Lower House, while the opposition United India has 234 seats.
Since independence, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha have been elected by consensus between the ruling and opposition parties.
While BJP leaders have remained tight-lipped about candidates, there is speculation that Om Birla, the 17th Speaker of the Lok Sabha, may also contest again.
However, Bhartruhari Mahtab, the current Speaker of the 18th Lower House of India, is also seen as a strong contender for the post.
The nomination process is expected to take place today, with the election set to take place on Wednesday, June 26.
Leaders from various Indian factions protested inside Parliament House in the national capital on Monday, holding copies of the Constitution, as the controversy over the appointment of Bharthar Mahtab as interim Speaker continues.
Indian National Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, party president Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge took part in the protest.
The deputy speaker’s post, which falls vacant during the previous term, is traditionally given to the opposition party. The BJP offered the post to its ally, AIADMK’s Thambi Durai, in 2014.
It will be interesting to see whether the Pro-India Party, which is short of seats in the Lok Sabha, will contest for the post of Deputy Speaker in the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran said the Indian Union plans to field candidates in the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
“We will definitely run for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Let the government express its opinion on whether to hold talks with the Opposition to reach an agreement on Speaker and Deputy Speaker and then we will think. If not we will definitely run,” Premchandran said outside the Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the start of the first session of the 18th Indian Parliament, which began with the taking of oath by new members.
The Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha will be elected on June 26. President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on June 27.
The NDA has a clear majority with 293 seats in the 543-seat Lower House, while the opposition United India has 234 seats.
