Why is it in the news?
- Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress submitted his nomination for the Lok Sabha Speaker position as the candidate of the INDIA bloc in New Delhi on June 25, 2024.
- The 18th Lok Sabha is poised for a unique Speaker election between the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Om Birla and Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the INDIA group of Opposition parties failed to reach a consensus.
More about the news
- Recently, key figures from both sides attempted to forge a consensus, but with no success. The decision to nominate Mr. Birla, a BJP MP from Rajasthan, emphasizes the BJP-led NDA’s emphasis on continuity, given his past role as Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha.
- However, the opposition party leaders accused the government of not adhering to the “custom” of having an Opposition candidate for the Deputy Speaker role.
- Suresh, the nominee of the INDIA bloc, is an eight-term MP from Kerala and hails from the Dalit community.
Three instances
- In the history of independent India, there have been only three instances— in 1952, 1967, and 1976—where a vote was required for the Speaker’s position.
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- In the event of an election, the numbers favor the government, with the NDA’s 293 MPs compared to the INDIA bloc’s 233. Additionally, at least three independent members in the Lok Sabha support the Opposition, which presently consists of 542 members after Mr. Gandhi vacated one of his two seats.
| About Office of Speaker & Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha: · Origin and Evolution: The concept of presiding officers in the Indian Parliament traces back to the Government of India Act of 1919, known as the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. Initially, these officers were designated as the President and Deputy President. The nomenclature changed to Speaker and Deputy Speaker with the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1935. · Constitutional Provision: Article 93 of the Indian Constitution governs the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha (Article 178 contains the corresponding provision for the Speakers and Deputy Speakers in the state Assemblies). Each House of Parliament, including the Rajya Sabha, has its own presiding officers: the Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Lok Sabha, and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman for the Rajya Sabha. The Office of the Speaker: Lok Sabha: · Election Criteria: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha must be a member of the House, as per the Constitution of India. While specific qualifications aren’t mandated, a strong understanding of constitutional principles and national laws is highly valued. · Nomination Process: Typically, the ruling party nominates a candidate for Speaker after informal consultations with leaders of other parties and groups in the House. This convention aims to ensure that the Speaker commands respect across party lines upon election. · Voting Procedure: The Speaker (and Deputy Speaker) is elected by a simple majority of members present and voting in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister or the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs usually proposes the candidate’s name once consensus is reached. · Term of Office: The Speaker serves from the date of election until just before the first meeting of the next Lok Sabha, which is approximately a five-year term. Re-election is possible, and the Speaker continues in office even if the Lok Sabha is dissolved until the new Lok Sabha convenes. · Conditions for Removal: The Speaker typically serves until the end of the Lok Sabha’s term. However, removal can occur if: o The Speaker ceases to be a Lok Sabha member. o Resignation is submitted in writing to the Deputy Speaker. o A majority resolution by all Lok Sabha members votes for removal. o Procedure: To initiate removal, a resolution must be notified at least 14 days in advance. o Role During Removal Process: During consideration of the removal resolution, the Speaker can attend but not preside over the House. Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha: · The Lok Sabha elects the Deputy Speaker immediately after the Speaker’s election from among its members.
· Election Date: The Speaker’s election date is set by the President, while the Deputy Speaker’s election date is determined by the Speaker. o Historical Practice: Until the 10th Lok Sabha, both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were typically chosen from the ruling party. o Current Norm: From the 11th Lok Sabha onward, it has become customary for the Speaker to be from the ruling party or alliance, with the Deputy Speaker position usually given to the main opposition party. o Dy Speaker is elected from among the Lok Sabha members by a simple majority of members present and voting. |
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