Kiren Rijiju and Opposition Clash Over Lok Sabha Speaker Election
New Delhi [India], June 25: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed disappointment on Tuesday over Congress nominating a candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker post. He emphasized that the Speaker should be elected unanimously for the proper functioning of the House.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that the opposition’s decision to contest the Speaker post goes against parliamentary traditions. He mentioned that Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah had discussions with opposition leaders, but they insisted on supporting the Speaker candidate only if they were given the Deputy Speaker post.
Union Civil Aviation Minister and TDP leader Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu criticized the opposition for setting conditions, stating that democracy does not work on such terms. He highlighted that senior leader Rajnath Singh had reached out to the opposition for support but was met with conditions.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale acknowledged the opposition’s right to field a candidate but expressed confidence in the NDA’s majority. The INDIA bloc nominated K Suresh, an 8-time MP, while the BJP nominated Kota MP Om Birla, the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.
This will be the first time elections will be held for the Speaker of the lower house, with the elections scheduled for June 26. The NDA holds a clear majority with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, compared to the opposition’s 234 MPs.
