Lok Sabha Session: After BJP MP Bhratruhari Mehtab was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker, the MPs of the opposition bloc INDIA have decided not to sit on the Speaker’s chair to assist the pro-tem Speaker during the oath-taking ceremony of MPs. The INDIA bloc parties and the Congress are upset with the appointment of BJP MP Bhratruhari Mehtab as the pro-tem Speaker, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

Congress and INDIA Bloc parties are upset with the fact that tradition has been broken and 7-time MP Mehtab was made the Protem Speaker instead of the 8-time Congress MP K Suresh, the sources further stated.

India bloc MPs will not sit on the Speaker’s chair to assist the Protem Speaker during the oath-taking ceremony of MPs.
Congress and India Bloc parties are upset with the fact that, tradition has been broken, 7-time BJP MP Bhratruhari Mehtab was made the Protem Speaker instead…

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is set to begin tomorrow, which will witness the newly-elected members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking oath. This will be followed by the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26 and President Droupadi Murmu‘s address to a joint sitting of both the Houses, scheduled for June 27.

This will be the first after the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which were held in seven phases from April to June. The polls saw NDA cross the 272-seat majority mark winning 293 seats. However, the BJP could not cross the majority mark on its own, securing 240 seats.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Session LIVE Updates

The opposition bloc INDIA bagged 234 seats, with Congress winning 99 of them. The session will commence after President Murmu will administer the oath to BJP leader and seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking on the appointment of pro-tem speaker, Congress MP K Suresh said, “The NDA government has violated the convention of Lok Sabha. So far, the convention was that the MP who was elected for a maximum number of times will be the pro-tem Speaker… Bhartruhari Mahtab is 7th time elected MP. However, I am the 8th time elected MP. They are insulting the opposition again. That’s why the INDIA alliance unanimously decided to boycott the panel members.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP K Suresh says, “…The NDA government has violated the convention of Lok Sabha. So far, the convention was that the MP who was elected for a maximum number of times will be the pro-tem Speaker… Bhartruhari Mahtab is 7th time elected MP. However, I am… pic.twitter.com/qPUqlCw4bj

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “…I met all the leaders. Just now I met DMK Parliamentary Party leader TR Baalu. Everyone agrees that Pro tem Speaker has never been an issue in the history of Indian Parliament and the appointment of Pro tem Speaker is basically to administer oath to the newly elected members and help in the election of the new Speaker.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, “…I met all the leaders. Just now I met DMK Parliamentary Party leader TR Baalu. Everyone agrees that Pro tem Speaker has never been an issue in the history of Indian Parliament and the appointment of Pro tem… pic.twitter.com/RcNvTT8yGH

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024