 "Why Centre and Opposition are sparring over pro-tem Speaker choice")
The BJP and the Congress are at odds again.
This time over Bhartruhari Mahtab’s appointment as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
Mahtab, a seasoned parliamentarian from the BJP, was appointed to the position on 20 June by President Droupadi Murmu.
According to the Opposition parties, the move deviates from the conventional practice of selecting the senior-most Lok Sabha member for the role.
They also allege that the ruling party is “anti-Dalit” for not selecting Congress’s Kodikunnil Suresh for the post.
‘Threat to parliamentary democracy’
In the past, the pro-tem Speaker has typically been the most senior member of the House. They are responsible for supervising the proceedings until a permanent Speaker is chosen, as well as giving the oath to newly elected members, according to The Times of India.
In this case, though, Mahtab, who won the Cuttack parliamentary seat for a seventh time, was selected even though he is not the most senior member.
The Congress expressed its disapproval, pointing out that Kodikunnil Suresh has served eight terms in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP-led administration, according to Congress leader KC Venugopal, is trying to “destroy parliamentary norms.”
“In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP, has been appointed the pro-tem Speaker, superseding Kodikunnil Suresh, who will be entering his eighth term,” he said on X.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsCongress general secretary Jairam Ram, as per TOI, said, “By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker pro-tem for the first two days when the oath is administered to all newly elected MPs.”
“The senior-most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their eighth term,” he added.
Amid this, Suresh claimed that, as the oldest member of the Lok Sabha, he should have been appointed pro-tem Speaker in accordance with norms.
“This decision amounts to threatening parliamentary democracy in the country,” he told reporters.
The anti-Dalit allegations
The Congress questioned whether Suresh’s denial of the position was because he belongs to the Dalit community, accusing the government of having anti-Dalit sentiment.
“One more reason (for not giving the post to Suresh) that comes to mind is… that Narendra Modi is anti-Dalit. Suresh is a Dalit,” Ramesh said.
In support of the party, the CPI(M) bloc in the INDIA bloc claimed that “upper caste politics” may have been involved, according to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In a statement, Vijayan said, “The Union Government should make clear why Mavelikkara MP Kodikunnil Suresh was neglected in the appointment despite him serving the longest serving member of the House. Has BJP got an answer to those who suspect that Sangh Parivar’s upper caste politics had worked behind this decision.”
He claimed that the BJP showed a “arrogant disregard” for parliamentary democratic norms and precedence by appointing him.
The CM further emphasised that the position of Deputy Speaker, which typically belongs to the Opposition, had been deliberately left empty for the duration of the 17th Lok Sabha.
“It shows that the BJP will not accept anyone in Opposition. It can be seen only as a challenge to Indian democracy,” he said.
Link to BJP’s win in Odisha
The dispute has also been connected to the BJP’s electoral victory in the Odisha elections, which came about when the party took office in the state for the first time.
Some have viewed Mahtab’s BJP selection as a reward for his performance in the state’s elections, as per TOI.
Shortly before the Lok Sabha elections, Mahtab went from the BJD to the BJP.
BJP’s response
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hit out at the Opposition over the controversy.
Rijiju said, according to NDTV, “I have to say it with great regret… I feel ashamed that Congress talks like this. I was hoping that this Lok Sabha session would start with a good mood… and that we can have a productive and cooperative parliament meeting. But what I have been seeing since yesterday, especially the issue that Congress has created regarding pro-tem speaker… Congress is doing so many wrong things it is trying to mislead people.”
#WATCH | On BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab appointed pro-tem Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "...I have to say it with great regret that I feel ashamed that the Congress party talks like this. First of all, they created an issue about the… pic.twitter.com/iKwodsMRg3
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
He told press, “The concept of pro-tem Speaker here is inspired by the Westminster system. As per the system, the longest serving member — usually the consecutive longest serving member – is called Father of the House there.”
Mahtab, he said, “is a seven-time Lok Sabha member without any break.”
“At this time, if we leave out the ministers, he is the longest-serving member. They talked about K Suresh ji. His total terms are eight, but in 2004 and 1998 there were breaks. From 2009, he has had four consecutive terms… There is no violation. Only those will feel (that there is violation) who haven’t read the system or its rules.”
He stated that Congress did not need to raise the matter because the pro-tem Speaker position is a temporary one.
“First, they tweeted and then tried to make it a nationwide campaign. First of all, pro-tem Speaker is a temporary, two-day post meant for the oath-taking of members. On the third day, the new Speaker is election. No business transaction is done during those two days,” he said.
The first session of 18th Lok Sabha
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on 24 June and conclude on 3 July.
The newly elected members will take oath on 24-25 June.
The election of the Speaker is scheduled to take place on 26 June.
Further, the 264th session of Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on June 3.
President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on 27 June.
She is likely to outline the new government’s roadmap for the next five years.
PM Modi is expected to introduce his council of ministers to Parliament after the President’s address on 27 June, according to PTI.
An active INDIA bloc opposition is predicted to attempt to corner the NDA government on a number of topics during the debate on the Motion of Thanks over the President’s address, as per Mint.
The debate in both Houses of Parliament on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address will be addressed by the prime minister.
With inputs from agencies
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