President Droupadi Murmu’s First Address to Parliament After NDA’s Third Term

President Droupadi Murmu is addressing the joint sitting of Parliament shortly, marking her first presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Following her address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament and discussed by the members.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday, and the Rajya Sabha session will start today. Congress chief and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his expectations for a good speech, emphasizing that it should be the President’s address and not a government speech. SP chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav noted that the President’s address is a tradition that happens every time, essentially representing the government’s speech.

Earlier, Om Birla was re-elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for the second time in a row after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was adopted by the House through a voice vote. Birla called for a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha, aiming to make it a center of creative thinking and new ideas, upholding high parliamentary traditions and dignity, and fulfilling the resolve of Viksit Bharat.

This is the first Lok Sabha session post-general elections, where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc obtained 234 seats. The BJP, however, did not achieve a majority on its own, securing 240 seats.