#18th Lok Sabha

[bhaskarlive]

From election to performance — Understanding the role of Speaker in the Lok Sabha

With the 18th Lok Sabha holding its inaugural session from June 24 to July 3, the House is likely to elect its new Speaker on June 26.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed the ‘pro-tem Speaker’ of the Lok Sabha. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him in the presence of all the newly-elected members of the Lower House.

Mahtab will serve as the ‘pro-tem Speaker’ till June 26, when the new Speaker will be elected.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[brijendrasstuff]

"Action Over Drama: PM Modi Calls for Opposition Unity in 18th Lok Sabha Session"

Action Over Drama: PM Modi Calls for Opposition Unity in 18th Lok Sabha Session Modi, opposition unity, 18th Lok Sabha, action, drama Discover how PM Modi’s call for opposition unity in the 18th Lok Sabha session emphasizes action over drama. Unite for progress and efficiency in governance! #BreakingNews | PM Modi sets the tone for Parliament session in historic first session of 18th Lok Sabha…

[abhishekjhaseo]

7-time MP Bhartrihari Mahtab will be the pro-tem speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. BJP MP from Odisha Bhartrihari Mahtab has been appointed as Pro-tem Speaker by President Draupadi Murmu. He will hold the responsibilities of the Speaker until a permanent Speaker is appointed in the Lok Sabha.

[kani-2br]

Political Battle Ahead in 2024

India is already in election mode, and 2023 will witness three layers of political competition — for the elections to the nine states that will be held over the year; for the elections of 2024, which will determine the composition of the 18th Lok Sabha and shape the next government; and for the post-Narendra Modi political landscape that will begin to emerge in the course of what is likely to be his third and perhaps final term post-2024

To be sure, these timelines and layers cannot be easily distinguished. The first will feed into the second, which will feed into the third. There is also an element of speculation involved, for events have a way of intruding dramatically into political scripts. Still, examining each layer of competition yields useful insights.

The battles of 2023

The year will begin with elections in the northeastern states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura. Before 2014, these polls would have merited a mere passing glance in the national political consciousness. But to the credit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has made the political integration of the region a political priority and takes every election in the region with utmost seriousness as a way to expand its power and democratic legitimacy, these elections have got more attention in recent years.

In Tripura, the BJP was able to dislodge an entrenched Left regime in 2018. Its plank rested on Modi’s appeal, resentment against the Left government, quick organisation-building on the back of work done by the Sangh, and clever tactical coalitions with tribal outfits. It has since replicated here a tactic used in Uttarakhand and Gujarat — replace the chief minister if there are reports of anti-incumbency and internal strife. While the Left is a pale shadow of itself, and the BJP may still emerge as the single largest party, it will face a challenge from a new tribal formation led by the former ruler of Tripura Pradyot Debbarman, a disillusioned former Congress loyalist. There is also the possibility of a Left-Congress tie-up to pose a unified challenge to the BJP.

In Nagaland, a state with no opposition legislators (see the story alongside for more on this), the more interesting political thread is the fate of the peace process. Before every elections, there is a renewed attempt to explore a broader settlement of the Naga question — which includes recognition of its distinct identity and symbols, issues of autonomy, and the intersection of Nagaland and Naga-speaking areas in other states. But a peace accord continues to look elusive and it is unlikely that the election will change that.

In Meghalaya, the last election resulted in a post-poll coalition between the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party and the BJP; this alliance has now broken down but its revival can’t be ruled out. Within the Opposition, however, Mukul Sangma — the Congress veteran who served as chief minister until 2018 — has shifted to the Trinamool Congress and the battle between him and his bête noire, Vincent Pala of the Congress, will be interesting to watch.

From the North-East, the political action will shift to Karnataka, where the BJP faces extremely strong anti-incumbency and a churn within its internal social coalition. The Congress has its own share of internal discord, but reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra has helped give new life to the party organisation here.

After a brief lull in the summer, across west and central India, the BJP and the Congress will battle it out for power. In Rajasthan, both parties have internal leadership tussles to resolve (Ashok Gehlot versus Sachin Pilot for the Congress, Vasundhara Raje versus central party leadership in the BJP), and the Congress faces the additional challenge of anti-incumbency in a state that sees regimes alternate every five years. In Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has invested a fair bit in crafting his public image and keeping the central leadership happy, but his rival, TS Singh Deo, is sullen after having been denied his turn at the wheel. The silver lining for the Congress is that the BJP doesn’t have a clear face after Raman Singh either.

Madhya Pradesh will see the first assembly election after Jyotiraditya Scindia’s entry into the BJP. But the Congress, under Kamal Nath and Digivijay Singh, will do its best to avenge its ouster from power despite having emerged as the single largest party in 2018.

Telangana, too, will head to polls at the end of the year. If K Chandrashekar Rao can preserve his bastion for the third time in a row, it will be a boost to his national ambitions. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) is the clear favourite in the polls, and the only question to watch out for is how well the BJP does vis-a-vis the Congress.

Back in the North-East, Mizoram goes to the polls. The BJP has struggled to make inroads in the Christian-dominated state, with the Mizo National Front continuing to exercise power and battle the multi-party, non-Congress Zoram People’s Movement for dominance.

Put together, the year will serve as a comprehensive status check: How do the Congress and the BJP now tackle internal leadership disputes? Will the Congress be able to retain Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and win Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, giving it some momentum for 2024? Or will it shrink further and be left with no state government across the western, central and southern swathe? What has been the electoral impact of the Bharat Jodo Yatra? Will the BJP retain its dominance in the north-east, either directly or with regional partners, or will the region see new alternatives emerge? How will the BJP’s performance shape internal power equations in the party?

The battle of 2024

While these are interesting questions in themselves, the lesson from 2018 and 2019 is to not treat the events of 2023 as a predictor for 2024.

In 2018, the BJP had failed to form the government in Karnataka, and the swearing-in of a JD(S)-Congress government saw all opposition leaders congregate in Bengaluru. The BJP also lost power in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh, after having retained power in those last two states for 15 years. It appeared to face severe challenges in maintaining its multi-caste coalition and addressing rising agrarian distress.

And yet 2019 saw Modi return with an even bigger majority than in 2014. Indian voters have shown, now in two elections in a row, that the question of leadership — of who will become PM — matters to them; and it is here that Narendra Modi continues to have a huge advantage over his rivals.

The BJP, in 2023, will showcase India’s presidency of the G20 (see the second essay on this page) as a mark of Modi’s foreign policy success. The inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya at the end of 2023 will cement the support of the core base. Welfare schemes, particularly the provision of drinking water, will be a key talking point. The Opposition will focus on economic mismanagement, unemployment, pandemic policies and rising inequality, while regional parties in North India will play up the demand for a caste census to break the Hindu vote.

The battles beyond 2024

All in all, there is little doubt that Modi starts out as the clear favourite to win a third term. But beneath the surface, Indian politics is already witnessing the third layer of competition. Within the BJP, there is increased speculation about home minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath as possible successors for leadership; both will do their best in 2024 to buttress their claims for the future.

Within the Opposition, there is a battle underway between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party to be the big national challenger, if not immediately then at least six years from now. But to do even that, the Congress will have to cross the 100 mark first, and AAP will have to expand nationally and win Lok Sabha seats across states.

For now, the BJP’s hegemony and the Opposition’s crises remain entrenched facts. The future of India now depends on how each party plays its role.

Source: Hindustan Times

[mybharatguru]

BJP will form the govt in Tamil Nadu in 2026 and 'scepter' will be placed in the assembly... Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan

Central Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the BJP will form the government in Tamil Nadu in 2026 and then the ‘scepter’ will be placed in the assembly.A scepter was placed near the Speaker’s seat in the Lok Sabha when the new Parliament was inaugurated. Since then the controversy over the scepter has continued. In this case, the meeting of the 18th Lok Sabha started on the 27th. Then…

[kimskashmir]

Engineer Rashid takes oath as member of 18th Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI — Jailed leader Engineer Rashid took oath as a member of Parliament on Friday after he was released on a two-hour custody parole by the Patiala House court in Delhi. Engineer Rashid was sworn in as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha following his victory from the Baramulla constituency in J&K. He defeated former J&K chief minister and vice president of the National Conference (NC), Omar…

[legalwires]

Lok Sabha Adopts Resolution Condemning Emergency 1975

On 26th June the 18th Lok Sabha adopted a resolution condemning the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Om Birla who was re-elected as the new speaker for the second term of the House of People read out the resolution condemning the Emergency of 1975. India marked the 50th anniversary of the Proclamation of Emergency on June 25 this year. Om Birla said “This house strongly…

[townpostin]

Singhbhum Chamber Congratulates Om Birla on Re-election as Lok Sabha Speaker

Business community expresses pride in Birla’s second term, citing his fair leadership Chamber officials laud Birla’s business background and approachable demeanor. JAMSHEDPUR – The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry has extended congratulations to Om Birla on his re-election as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Chamber President Vijay Anand Moonka and Honorary General Secretary Manav Kedia…

[kupwaratimes-fan]

Owaisi Hails Palestine, Faces Backlash In Parliament

Owaisi Hails Palestine, Faces Backlash In Parliament NEW DELHI: AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi Tuesday hailed a conflict-hit West Asian country after taking oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha, triggering an uproar from the treasury benches that led to the Chair ordering that the remarks be expunged. Owaisi, however, justified his slogans after he came out of the House and told reporters there…

[hardinkhabaranuj]

Congress declared Rahul Gandhi as the 18th Lok Sabha opposition leader

Congress ने Rahul Gandhi को 18th Lok Sabha विपक्ष नेता घोषित किया: कांग्रेस ने मंगलवार को घोषणा की कि रायबरेली से पार्टी के सांसद राहुल...

[bhaskarlive]

18th Lok Sabha set to begin today, Kiren Rijiju extends warm welcome to newly elected MPs

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday extended a warm welcome to the newly elected members for the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which is set to begin on Monday.

In a post on X, Rijiju expressed his readiness to assist the members and emphasised the importance of coordination for the smooth functioning of the House.

“The First Session of the 18th Lok Sabha begins today, the 24th of June, 2024. I welcome all the newly elected hon’ble members. I shall always be available to assist the members as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. I’m positively looking forward to coordination to run the House,” stated the BJP MP.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[werindialive]

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia digs on Congress, asks not to jump unnecessarily

On Monday, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia made fun of Congress party for comparing the results of its last three elections with Bhartiya Janta Party’s results in the polls and said that the joy that the Grand old party is celebrating is uncalled for and they are ‘jumping unnecessarily.’

The comment from Scindia came after there was a heavy response from the opposition on the first day of the 18th Lok Sabha session about different issues which included BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab being appointed as the pro-tem Speaker, the relocation of other statues in the parliament building and the said irregularities in the NEET exam.

Talking to a news agency Scindia said, “The people who are jumping unnecessarily after winning 99 seats (in the Lok Sabha election) need to understand that their combined total seats in the last three elections stand less than the BJP's seats in 2024. Count their 99 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, count their 56 seats in 2019, and add their 42 seats in 2014; even after this, they have got less than 240 seats.”

INDIA Bloc secured 234 seats in the recent Lok Sabha Elections while Congress secured over 99 seats. With 240 seats. Though BJP appeared as a single winning party it was unable to reach the mark of 272 seats which is required to form the government. This also made BJP to rely on other parties for support.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in after he got support from the allies to form a government.

Scindia commended PM Modi for his leadership and said, “This is the first time in 75 years that something like this has happened. PM Narendra Modi has set an unprecedented benchmark... We have full faith that India will further grow on the global stage under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.”

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[mybharatguru]

PM Modi criticizes Congress MPs for using Constitution book to seek publicity…

Prime Minister Modi has criticized Congress MPs who were sworn in with the Constitution book in their hands, while some are seeking publicity by using the Constitution book. With the completion of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the 3rd time. Parliament met for the first time on June 27 after the election. The President addressed the MPs as they…

[kimskashmir]

Rahul Gandhi to be the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI — The Congress on Tuesday evening announced that senior party leader Rahul Gandhi will be the Leader of the Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha. “Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been appointed as the LoP in the Lok Sabha,” said party General Secretary (Organisation), K.C. Venugopal. The decision was taken at a meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc, sources said. In a post on X,…

[bbnewsin125]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath as a Member of Parliament today as the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced. #Shorts #Shortvideos #bbnewsinternational #corp #trendingnews #newsoftheday #newsupdates #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com