Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday, accusing it of breaking parliamentary conventions by failing to designate Congress’ Kodikunnil Suresh as pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
According to convention, the most senior MP in the Lok Sabha is expected to be the pro-tem speaker, and ‘ Kodikunnil Suresh from Kerala, is the most senior MP, having served eight terms.
CM Vijayan also questioned why the BJP has not responded to people who believe Suresh was overlooked owing to “upper caste politics,” which is practiced by the Sangh Parivar, according to PTI.
Suresh won the reserved constituency of Mavelikkara in Kerala by a margin of 10,868 votes over CPI candidate Arun Kumar CA, according to the Election Commission of India.
Vijayan also asked information on why the convention was not followed in this matter, following the appointment of BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab as the Lok Sabha’s pro-tem Speaker.
Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term legislator, was chosen pro-tem Speaker on Thursday.
Kerala CM accused the BJP of disregarding “parliamentary democratic principles and past conventions” while being arrogant.
Vijayan also questioned the ruling party’s justification for holding the job of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha vacant for five years while not allowing anyone from the opposition to fill it.
Who is Bhartruhari Mahtab?
- He is a seven-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Cuttack, Odisha.
- Son of Odisha’s former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab.
- Moved to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls after a long association with Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal.
The pro-tem Speaker will preside over Lok Sabha sessions till the Speaker is chosen in an election scheduled for June 26. The Pro-tem Speaker will administer the oath to the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24-25.
How long does a pro-tem Speaker serve?
The pro-tem Speaker serves for a brief period, typically no more than three legislative days. However, in case of the Speaker’s illness, the pro-tem Speaker may serve for up to ten legislative days with House approval.
Who appoints the pro-tem Speaker?
The pro-tem Speaker is appointed by the President of India. When the Speaker post falls vacant before a new Lok Sabha, the duties of the Speaker are performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as Speaker pro tem. The pro-tem Speaker’s primary duty is to administer oaths to the newly elected Members of Parliament.
In the recent 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF) secured 18 out of 20 seats. However, the celebration was overshadowed by a historic victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Thrissur, a significant constituency with nearly 39% minority votes.
BJP candidate Suresh Gopi secured a resounding victory in Thrissur, surpassing his closest rival from the Communist Party of India (CPI) by an impressive margin of 74,686 votes1. The BJP’s efforts to engage with Christian communities in Kerala have intensified over the past couple of years, aiming to expand their support base and strengthen their organizational structure within the state.
