GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th June. The 18th Lok Sabha is set to convene today amid heightened tensions as the Opposition, bolstered by increased numbers following the general elections, prepares to confront the ruling BJP. Central to the discord is the selection of Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker, marking a contentious start to parliamentary proceedings.
The pro-tem Speaker, a temporary role entrusted with administering the oath to newly elected members, has sparked a clash between the Treasury and Opposition benches. Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-time MP and BJP’s choice for the position, faces opposition from the Congress, which advocated for K Suresh, an eight-term MP.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended Mahtab’s selection, citing his uninterrupted service as an MP compared to Suresh’s electoral defeats in 1998 and 2004. President Droupadi Murmu will administer Mahtab’s oath before the session commences, where he will officiate until the election of a permanent Speaker.
In a gesture of dissent, Congress MPs including K Suresh, T R Baalu, and Sudip Bandyopadhyay announced their refusal to assist Mahtab during the oath-taking ceremony. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized BJP’s rationale, questioning the exclusion of Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi, another seven-term BJP MP, from consideration.
Responding to criticism, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla suggested making K Suresh the Leader of the Opposition if his political stature was a concern. Meanwhile, K Suresh lamented the government’s decision, emphasizing widespread dissatisfaction with the BJP’s handling of the pro-tem Speaker appointment.
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