The roles of both houses of Parliament are crucial in the Indian democracy, and the presence of both a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker is considered essential for the smooth functioning of parliamentary proceedings.
New Delhi: Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the immediate election of the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker. Kharge linked this issue to a "violation of constitutional convention," stating that the post has remained vacant for two consecutive Lok Sabha terms (17th and 18th), which he considers contrary to democratic values.
Kharge's Letter to PM Modi: Cites Constitutional Violation
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge stated that Article 93 of the Indian Constitution explicitly mandates that the Lok Sabha should elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker "as soon as possible." He lamented that the Deputy Speaker's election has not taken place since the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019, and this tradition appears to be continuing in the 18th Lok Sabha.
Kharge further argued that respecting constitutional values and parliamentary traditions necessitates the swift election of a Deputy Speaker.
Opposition Attacks Government's Silence
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the Congress President noted that from the first to the 16th Lok Sabha, the Deputy Speaker's position was traditionally given to a member of the main opposition party. He cited the example of M. Thambidurai of the AIADMK, who held the position in the 16th Lok Sabha when the Congress was in opposition. Kharge alleged that the government deliberately kept the post vacant in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) and is doing so again in the 18th Lok Sabha.
Opposition parties have raised this issue, accusing the government of "disregarding democratic values." Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated, "By keeping the Deputy Speaker's post vacant, the government has violated constitutional convention. This reflects PM Modi's 'anti-constitutional stance.'"
Why is the Deputy Speaker's Role Important?
- In the Speaker's absence, the Deputy Speaker presides over the House.
- They are responsible for maintaining order in the House, controlling debates, and ruling on breaches of rules.
- Under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, if the Speaker's post is vacant, the Deputy Speaker acts as the Speaker.
What Does History Say?
- First Lok Sabha (1952): M. A. Ayyangar (Congress) became Speaker, while the Deputy Speaker's post went to S. V. Krishnamurthy Rao (Socialist Party).
- 1980-89: Leaders like Gokulbhai Bhatt (Janata Party) and Rabi Ray (Congress) served in this position.
- 2014-19: M. Thambidurai (AIADMK) was appointed Deputy Speaker with the opposition's consent.
There has been no official response from the government yet, but sources suggest that the BJP wants to appoint one of its MPs to the post, while the opposition is demanding it be allocated to them in accordance with tradition.
