New Delhi: Narendra Modi has been sworn-in as Prime Minister for the third time in a row. Along with PM Modi, his Council of Ministers also took oath on Sunday.
Ahead of announcement of the portfolios being allotted to the Cabinet Ministers, there is a big question regarding the Lok Sabha Speaker post.
The first and second Narendra Modi governments were sworn in 10 and seven days, respectively, after the poll results. This time, the BJP fell short of a majority and its top leadership had to hold several discussions with allies, especially N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, to reach a consensus on ministerial berths. The BJP finally held the swearing-in ceremony of a full cabinet of 72 ministers just four days after the verdict.
A key question, however, remains – who gets the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post? Multiple reports have claimed that both the TDP and JDU, which have emerged as kingmakers in this election, are looking at the key position. But BJP sources have said they are not keen to hand it over.
How Speaker Is Elected?
As per the Constitution, the Speaker’s post falls vacant just before the new Lok Sabha meets for the first time. A pro-tem Speaker appointed by the President administers the oath of office to the new MPs. Subsequently, a Lok Sabha Speaker is elected by a simple majority. While there are no specific criteria to be elected as a Lok Sabha Speaker, an understanding of the Constitution and parliamentary rules is an advantage. In the last two Lok Sabhas, in which the BJP enjoyed a majority, Sumitra Mahajan and Om Birla were the Speakers.
Why Speaker Post Is Important?
The position of Lok Sabha Speaker, who runs the House, happens to be a tricky one. The Speaker’s post is supposed to be non-partisan, but the one who occupies it has taken over the prestigious role after he/she has won an election as a representative of a particular party. After one gets elected as Speaker, he/she belongs to the whole House and not to a party.
Why NDA Allies Keen To Get Speaker Post?
Being veteran political leaders, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are keen to get the Speaker’s post as an insurance. In the past, there have been many cases of revolt within ruling parties that have led to splits and even toppled governments. In such cases, the anti-defection law comes into play, and this law gives a very powerful position to the Speaker of the House. Speaker of the House has absolute power in deciding cases relating to disqualification of members on the ground of defection, observers say citing legal provisions. Incidentally, Nitish Kumar had in the past accused the BJP of trying to break his party. The kingmakers, therefore, do not want to wake up to a mutiny and want the Speaker’s post as a shield against any such tactic.
However, BJP wants to keep the Speaker post with it. The Lok Sabha Speaker has enormous constitutional powers. Therefore, BJP is reluctant to give the important post to its allies.
Who All Are In Race?
While there is a big possibility that Om Birla may continue as the Speaker; media reports are also suggesting the name of Daggubati Purandeswari, who is a frontrunner for the Lok Sabha Speaker post. Daughter of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Founder N T Rama Rao, Purandeswari is a BJP politician from Andhra Pradesh and also the state President of BJP. She was the Minister of Human Resource Development in 2009 and MoS in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the year 2012.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has claimed that a BJP Speaker in the new Lok Sabha would be “dangerous for parliamentary traditions”. The post, he said, should be held by the TDP, the NDA’s second biggest member with 16 MPs.
“If the Speaker is from BJP, bills will be passed in arbitrary manner by violating the Constitution, parties like TDP, JD(U) and other small parties will be broken and forced to join (the BJP). BJP has a history of that,” Singh claimed.
Meanwhile, media reports suggested that if the Lok Sabha Session begins on June 18, by June 20, 2024 the selection of the next Lok Sabha Speaker will be made.
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