Rahul Gandhi of Congress revealed that the INDIA bloc in the Opposition supports the BJP-led NDA government’s candidate for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker if the deputy Speaker post goes to the INDIA bloc. He revealed that the Defense Minister and a senior BJP member, Rajnath Singh, had extorted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on the need for unity between the government and the opposition parties. But up till now, they have not gotten any response from Singh about the Opposition’s claims on the Deputy Speaker’s post.
“The Prime Minister has asked the Opposition to be constructive said Rahul Gandhi. The government has made it abundantly clear that we will support the Speaker, the Opposition deserves the position of deputy Speaker .. Rajnath Ji called Mallikarjun Kharge to seek support for the Speaker, but the latter is yet to return the call. The Prime Minister is talking about constructive cooperation but our leader is being overlooked,” he added.
He also criticized PM Modi by claiming that he has been ambiguous in his goals. “PM Modi does not appear to want any positive engagement”… “But as I said, we stand for opening; full support is ready if norms are followed in speaker’s election.”
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, also stood in solidarity with Gandhi’s statement, asserting that the party also had a similar stand on the issue. ‘Soon everything will be clear… This was the demand of the Opposition that the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha should be from the Opposition,’ said Yadav.
The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker and deputy post has been set for Tuesday, while the nominating process is set for today, Tuesday, 25th of June. This turns the spotlight on Om Birla, who is likely to be repeated in the 17th Lok Sabha as a Speaker’s nominee.
Earlier on Monday, many of the opposition leaders dumped papers that held constitutions in their hands and raised objections in parliament regarding the appointment of BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem speaker.
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