The recent Lok Sabha Speaker election showcased a rare display of camaraderie between the ruling Treasury and Opposition benches. Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, graciously congratulated Om Birla and even shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was heartening to see the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju escorting Birla to the Speaker’s chair.
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Om Birla has now become the only Lok Sabha Speaker, after Balram Jakhar in 1985, to serve two full terms. Following the customary rituals, the Opposition leaders took their turns to congratulate Birla on his election as the Speaker, emphasizing the importance of allowing the Opposition to voice the concerns of the people in the new term.
Rahul Gandhi articulated, “We believe that by giving voice to the Opposition, you will uphold your duty to defend the Constitution of India. While the government holds political power, the opposition also represents the voice of the Indian people. It is imperative that the Opposition’s voice is heard in this House.”
The Suspension of 150 Opposition Members
The Opposition MPs raised concerns about the sudden suspension of ‘150 Opposition members in a day’ during the previous Lok Sabha session. They implored Birla to ensure that the Opposition’s voice is not stifled in the House of People.
Expressing her views, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule stated, “While you have achieved much in the last five years, the suspension of 150 of my colleagues was disheartening. It is our hope that such drastic measures will not be taken in the future, and we are always open to dialogue.”
Despite the NDA being the ruling alliance, the BJP did not secure a simple majority in the Lok Sabha independently, unlike in the past. However, the numbers favored the NDA candidate, Om Birla.
The opposition INDIA bloc, comprising at least 236 MPs, can count on the support of smaller parties and some independents. It is evident that the 18th Lok Sabha will witness heightened confrontation compared to the past two terms.
“We anticipate that no public representative’s voice will be suppressed, and we hope to avoid any further expulsions. Your authority should extend to both the Opposition and the ruling side,” emphasized Akhilesh Yadav, the President of the Samajwadi Party.
Several other Opposition MPs reminded the newly-elected speaker of the evolving nature of the house, with the hope that he will adhere to the constitutional norms.
Speaker Birla in response to the various concerns, assured that agreements and disagreements will have their place in the Lok Sabha. He urged the government to heed suggestions from the opposition, concluding the session for the day on a positive note.
Published: 26 Jun 2024, 01:11 PM IST
