Post-Birla Re-Election, NDA Silence On Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Sparks Opposition Outcry

post-om birla re-election, nda silence on lok sabha deputy speaker sparks opposition outcry

The government and the opposition are at odds over the position of the deputy speaker. After Om Birla was re-elected as Speaker on Wednesday, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has maintained suspense over the position of the deputy.

The opposition is adamant that one of their members should be elected as the deputy speaker, leading to a standoff that prevented them from fully supporting Birla. Consequently, Congress MP K Suresh submitted his nomination for the Speaker's post, triggering an election.

Opposition leaders have indicated that they were informed discussions about the deputy speaker's post would occur separately at a later, unspecified date.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "The attitude of this government is not fine. It's a ritual that if a Speaker is made, then the Deputy Speaker will be of the Opposition. In our government, the Deputy Speaker was of the Opposition. I don't know what decision has been taken. It's a government of alliance and no party has got full majority. The BJP had 303 and today, they are merely at 240, nearly 65 MPs have been reduced, and Congress MPs have increased from 55 to 102 and people have accepted it. Om Birla has become Speaker for the second time. We hope that he works unbiased, and all will get equal opportunity, more than 100 MPs were suspended and it was a black day in the history. We keep the Constitution, it's ways and the procedure at the top, and I hope in this tenure, nothing like this would take place. Opposition will be given a chance to speak as we have more numbers than the last time. Paksh or vipaksh mein zada gap nahi hai."

During the 17th Lok Sabha, the deputy speaker's position remained unfilled. Previously, AIADMK's M Thambi Durai served as deputy speaker in the 16th Lok Sabha, while BJP's Sumitra Mahajan was the Speaker.

Historically, from the 6th to the 16th Lok Sabha, the deputy speaker's role has been held by opposition leaders. Article 95(1) states that the deputy speaker assumes the duties of the Speaker when the position is vacant, wielding the same general powers as the Speaker when presiding over the House.