New Delhi: Inaugural Session of the 18th Lok Sabha to Commence with Key Events
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will commence on Monday, featuring the oath-taking ceremony for 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 appointment of BJP leader and seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker has sparked controversy. The opposition criticized the decision, alleging that Congress member K. Suresh’s candidacy for the position was disregarded.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the appointment, stating that Mahtab’s seven uninterrupted terms in the Lok Sabha qualify him for the role, whereas Suresh’s current term is only his fourth consecutive one, having lost elections in 1998 and 2004.
On Monday, President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Mahtab will then proceed to Parliament House to call the Lok Sabha to order at 11 am.
The session will begin with a moment of silence, followed by Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh presenting the list of elected members. Mahtab will then invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, to take his oath.
Mahtab will administer the oath to the panel of chairpersons appointed by the President to assist in the proceedings until the Speaker’s election on June 26. The panel includes Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress), T. R. Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP), and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC).
Subsequently, the pro-tem Speaker will administer the oath to the Council of Ministers and other members in alphabetical order over the next two days. The election of 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 address the joint sitting of both Houses on June 27, with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to her address commencing on June 28. The Prime Minister is expected to respond to the debate on July 2 or 3.
Both Houses will take a brief recess and reconvene on July 22 for the presentation of the Union Budget.
