18th Lok Sabha: Union Minister Rajnath Singh Initiates Talks With Opposition For Building Consensus On Speaker & Deputy Speaker Post

In a bid to build consensus over the post of deputy speaker and speaker, Union Minister Rajnath Singh recently initiated talks with both opposition leaders and alliance partners revealed ANI’s sources on Tuesday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has also initiated talks with opposition leaders.

This development comes at a time when the opposition was planning to remove its three representatives, who were appointed by the government, to assist the protem Speaker in administering the oath to newly elected members of parliament, due to the bypassing of the seniormost MP Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress) for the post.

Kodikunnil Suresh was considered an ideal choice for the post of deputy speaker by INDIA Bloc. As he is an 8-time MP, who comes from the dalit community.

Earlier, congress leader Jairam Ramesh posed a counter question to government, which claimed that BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab is a longest serving MP for consecutive term unlike suresh, whose 8 terms had two breaks between.

Posing a counter-question Jairam Ramesh said, ‘If this argument is adopted, then why has Ramesh Jigajinagi, a BJP MP who is also in his 7th consecutive term, not been considered? Is it because he is a Dalit like Suresh?’

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha Speaker is going to be chosen on June 26, 2024. Following speaker’s election, President Draupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of both the houses of the parliament on June 27, 2024.