After losing the Speaker’s post in the Lok Sabha, the opposition INDIA bloc parties are now demanding the appointment of a Deputy Speaker and would press for their demand strongly. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is reportedly open to the idea of having a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. It may be noted the government’s efforts to reach a consensus on Om Birla’s choice as the Speaker fell through as the opposition INDIA bloc insisted that it should be promised the position of his deputy as per “convention”. The NDA felt that the opposition’s demand for the Deputy Speaker can be considered but it should not impose any precondition.
After the talks fell through with the BJP firm on its stance to put up Om Birla as the candidate for the Speaker’s post, the opposition ended up putting up seasoned Congress leader K Suresh as its candidate, with Birla getting elected by a voice vote. Though different governments in the past have allowed the opposition to have its nominee as the Deputy Speaker, the BJP has noted that this has not always been the case. The Congress has claimed that as the recognised opposition party, its member should get the position in the Lower House. It also cited the convention in the Lok Sabha that the post of Deputy Speaker is given to the opposition.
The 17th Lok Sabha, which was dissolved on June 5 did not have a Deputy Speaker for its full term. The Deputy Speaker’s post has been lying vacant since 2019. All eyes are now set on who will get the post which usually goes to the opposition ranks. The INDIA bloc will mount pressure that the Deputy Speaker’s post is not left vacant this time. Now, all eyes are on the post of Deputy Speaker, which the Opposition has been vying for since the beginning. They are of the view that the deputy speaker’s post should go to any of the principal opposition parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress or DMK.
The Deputy Speaker has a lot of roles and responsibilities. In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker performs all the duties of the Speaker. Every now and then, when the Speaker has to attend to his other duties, he has to vacate the chair, and in his absence it is usually the Deputy Speaker who presides over the deliberations of the House. The Deputy Speaker has the same powers as the Speaker when presiding over a sitting of the House. A Deputy Speaker, unlike the Speaker, can speak in the House, take part in its deliberations and vote as a member on any question before the House. He, however, can do so only when the Speaker is presiding.
