Om Birla vs K Suresh : First time lok sabha speaker election to be held


 
New Delhi, June 24: Just before the start of the new session of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla resigned from the post of Speaker, allowing the Pro Tem Speaker to take charge and initiate the oath-taking process for MPs. Traditionally, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has been elected unanimously, but this time voting might be required as the India bloc led by Congress has filed the nomination of senior congress leader MP K Suresh.


Election of the speaker:-
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by a simple majority, which means support from 272 members out of the 543-member house is necessary. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) having over 290 MPs, Om Birla could likely be re-elected as Speaker. However, the opposition has announced its participation in the election, accusing the BJP of not granting the Deputy Speaker position to them.

Importance of the Speaker:-
The role of the Lok Sabha Speaker is significant as the Speaker is expected to act impartially with all parties. Historically, some Speakers like N. Sanjiva Reddy resigned from their party (Congress) to maintain impartiality. Other Speakers, such as P.A. Sangma, Somnath Chatterjee, and Meira Kumar, did not resign from their parties but were still required to uphold impartiality.

The challenge for the BJP:-
This time, the BJP has fewer seats than in 2014 and 2019, making them reliant on other parties. The JD(U) and TDP have announced their support for the BJP's candidate, providing some relief to the BJP.


Role and Powers of the Speaker:-
The role of the Lok Sabha Speaker is crucial for ensuring the smooth functioning of the house, maintaining discipline, and protecting the rights of MPs. Typically, the Speaker does not vote, but their vote becomes decisive in case of a tie. 

The Speaker also ensures that the quorum, a minimum of 10% of the total members, is present for the proceedings.

The Speaker determines which bills are money bills, requiring approval only from the Lok Sabha. Additionally, the Speaker decides on the disqualification of MPs under the Anti-Defection Law. This decision is rarely challenged in court.

The election of the Lok Sabha Speaker is crucial, especially when the ruling party does not have an absolute majority. The decisions and impartiality of the Speaker are vital for the smooth functioning of democracy.

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