Rahul Gandhi Discusses Speaker and Deputy Speaker Roles with Rajnath Singh

New Delhi [India], June 25: After senior cabinet minister Rajnath Singh reached out to Opposition leaders on behalf of the government to build consensus for the post of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared their stance.

Rahul Gandhi said, “We have said to Rajnath Singh that we will support their Speaker (candidate) but the convention is that the post of Deputy Speaker be given to opposition.”

He also detailed talks between Rajnath Singh and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging that Opposition leaders are being insulted. Gandhi stated, “PM Modi is asking for cooperation from Opposition but our leader is getting insulted.”

If the Opposition INDIA bloc announces its candidate for the post, it will be the first time elections will be held for the Speaker of the lower house. The Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected on June 26, and President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on June 27.

The NDA, with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, has a clear majority, while the opposition INDIA bloc has 234 MPs.