Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and K. Suresh will contest today, know what has happened so far in ten points

New DelhiAfter the results of the Lok Sabha elections, MPs have taken oath for the 18th Lok Sabha but the ruling party and the opposition have come face to face on the issue of the Speaker. There has been no consensus on the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker. After this, Congress MP K. Suresh has been declared the candidate by the opposition India Alliance, while the NDA has made Om Birla, MP from Kota, Rajasthan, who was the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, as its candidate. In the history of India’s parliamentary system, elections for the post of Speaker are not very common, so far it has happened only twice. Let us understand in ten points why the opposition has contested this election despite the ruling party having sufficient numbers and what has happened so far.

1. The contest for the Lok Sabha Speaker will be between BJP’s Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota, Rajasthan, and Congress’ K Suresh, an eight-time MP from Mavelikara, Kerala. The BJP has renominated Birla to strengthen the message of continuity.

2. The Speaker is elected by a simple majority, taking into account the number of MPs present and voting. Seven MPs – five from the opposition and two independents – have not taken the oath and cannot vote.

3. The opposition has 232 seats, while the NDA has 293 MPs. The NDA is also expected to get the support of four MPs of YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress.

4. The stage was set for the election on Tuesday as the Congress, upset with the ruling party’s stance, decided to field K Suresh just 10 minutes before the deadline.

5. The Congress has fielded candidates after the BJP rejected its demand for the posts of pro tem speaker and deputy speaker. The Congress had initially hoped that K Suresh would get the post of pro tem speaker, which went to BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab.

6On Tuesday morning, the government tried to build a consensus on the name of Om Birla and made it clear that they are not currently considering the opposition’s claim for the post of deputy speaker.

7. Congress’ Rahul Gandhi said that Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and asked him/her to support but the opposition decided that they will support because the tradition is that the deputy speaker should be from our side. Rajnath Singh had said that he/she would call back but he/she has not called yet. The Prime Minister is asking for cooperation but is insulting our leader.

8. Meetings were also held between the two sides on Tuesday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah met NDA allies, while opposition India Block leaders held their meeting at the house of Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has said that the India Alliance has not consulted them on this issue.

9. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has issued a last appeal to make the candidate for the Speaker unanimously. he/she said that for the last two days we have been in touch with the main opposition parties, talked to their floor leaders about the post of Speaker. We want the Speaker to be elected unopposed and unanimously.

10. This will not be the first time that the Lok Sabha Speaker is being elected. Elections for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker have been held twice before. Once again, voting will be held for the Speaker.