The Congress-led INDIA bloc has nominated Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-time Congress MP from Kerala, for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker after the BJP and the opposition failed to reach a consensus for the post. This move has sparked the first election for the top parliamentary post since 1946.
Suresh’s nomination highlights the simmering tension between the INDIA bloc and the BJP-led NDA, which had sought opposition support to re-elect Om Birla, the MP from Kota, as the Speaker. Birla filed his nomination today, just before the deadline for filing papers ended at 12 noon.
The Speaker is elected by a simple majority. The candidate who receives more than half of the votes from the members present in the house becomes the Speaker. The NDA has 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, whereas the opposition alliance has 232. The election will be held tomorrow.
The last election for the post of Central Legislative Assembly Speaker took place on January 24, 1946. Congress leader GV Mavalankar emerged victorious with 66 votes, narrowly defeating Cowasjee Jehangir who received 63 votes.
The Congress had made it clear that if the government expected a consensus on its choice for the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Deputy Speaker must come from the Opposition. BJP leaders claimed such conditions won’t work.
While NDA allies Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal United were consulted to fill the posts, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, tasked with building a consensus on the Speaker candidate, discussed the matter with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, DMK leader MK Stalin and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Singh didn’t get back to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on the latter’s demand for the Deputy Speaker post.
“The country knows that the Prime Minister’s words mean nothing. The Prime Minister says there should be cooperation, but does something else. Our leader has not received a callback yet,” he said.
Sources said the BJP will decide on the Deputy Speaker’s post at a later stage.
The Deputy Speaker’s post is traditionally given to the Opposition. However, the BJP had appointed its former ally AIADMK’s M Thambi Durai as Deputy Speaker in 2014. The post remained vacant in 2019.
In both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha, there was no Leader of the Opposition, as the Congress did not have enough numbers. This time, with 99 seats of its own and support from its INDIA allies, the Congress is pushing for the Deputy Speaker’s post.
In previous instances, when the BJP got absolute majority in 2014 and 2019, Sumitra Mahajan and Om Birla were elected Speaker without contest. The Deputy Speaker position was held by AIADMK’s M. Thambi Durai in the 16th Lok Sabha but remained vacant in the 17th Lok Sabha.
Under the UPA-led governments, BJP MPs Charanjit Singh Atwal and Kariya Munda served as Deputy Speaker in 2004 and 2009, respectively.
The Speaker plays a crucial role in the Lok Sabha, tasked with impartially overseeing its proceedings. Beyond managing the House, the Speaker sets the agenda for parliamentary sessions and facilitates critical motions such as adjournments and no-confidence votes.
In matters concerning the interpretation and application of House rules, the Speaker’s decisions are final and binding, ensuring order and fairness amidst diverse perspectives from ruling and opposition members. This non-partisan approach is vital due to the Speaker’s dual role as an elected representative of a specific party.
The Speaker also holds the authority to discipline disruptive conduct and enforce penalties, including the disqualification of members under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
