The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which begins Monday, will feature the oath-taking by newly elected members, followed by the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26 and President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses on June 27.
The session is anticipated to be overshadowed by controversy surrounding the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab, a BJP leader and seven-term member, as the pro-tem speaker. The opposition has criticised the move, claiming that Congress member K Suresh was overlooked for the position.
Kiren Rijiju, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, defended Mahtab’s selection, citing his seven uninterrupted terms as a Lok Sabha member. Rijiju pointed out that Suresh had lost elections in 1998 and 2004, making his current term his fourth consecutive one in the lower house, after earlier wins in 1989, 1991, 1996, and 1999.
President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. Mahtab will subsequently convene the Lok Sabha at 11 AM at Parliament House.
The proceedings will commence with a moment of silence to mark the first sitting of the 18th Lok Sabha. Utpal Kumar Singh, the Lok Sabha Secretary General, will present the list of elected members to the House.
Mahtab will then invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, to take oath as a member. The pro-tem speaker will also administer the oath to a panel of chairpersons appointed by the President to assist in House proceedings until the Speaker’s election on June 26.
The appointed chairpersons include Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP), and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC).
Following the administration of oaths to chairpersons, Mahtab will administer oaths or affirmations to the Council of Ministers. Members from states will take oath in alphabetical order over the next two days.
The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker is scheduled for Wednesday, after which the Prime Minister will introduce his council of ministers to the House.
President Murmu will deliver her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on June 27. The debate on the Motion of Thanks to her address will commence on June 28, with the Prime Minister expected to respond on July 2 or 3.
Both Houses will briefly recess and reconvene on July 22 for the Union Budget presentation.