Lok Sabha Session Updates: Opposition Protests and Oath-Taking Ceremony
On Monday, leaders from the Opposition bloc INDIA, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, staged a protest outside Parliament. They held copies of the Constitution, expressing their discontent with the BJP-led NDA government.
Inside Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha and will serve as the Leader of the House. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab is administering the oath to the newly elected MPs. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu swore in BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker.
Congress and INDIA bloc MPs boycotted the oath-taking ceremony, protesting the appointment of Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker instead of Congress MP K Suresh. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will run until July 3. Following the swearing-in of MPs, the election for the Lok Sabha Speaker is scheduled for June 26, and President Murmu will address a joint session of both houses on June 27.
Key Highlights
- President Murmu swore in Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker, who then invited PM Modi to take his oath.
- President Murmu appointed five MPs to assist the pro-tem Speaker, but three Opposition MPs boycotted the assistance.
- The session is expected to be contentious, with the Opposition set to challenge the government on various issues, including the Speaker’s election, exam paper leaks, and pro-tem Speaker appointment disputes.
- The Opposition also plans to address rising prices, food inflation, heatwave deaths, and exam irregularities.
The new Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected on June 26 by a simple majority vote. Until then, the pro-tem Speaker will handle essential functions.
18th Lok Sabha Overview
- The 18th Lok Sabha begins following the general elections, with the NDA securing 293 seats, the INDIA bloc winning 234 seats, and Congress holding 99 seats.
- The final session of the 17th Lok Sabha was held from January 31 to February 10, 2024.
