President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of Parliament today, marking her first address since the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha. This session holds significance as it marks the third term for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. As per Article 87 of the Constitution, the President is mandated to address a joint session of Parliament at the commencement of each session following Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, the President delivers an address to the joint sitting of both Houses in the inaugural session of every year. Following the Presidential address, a motion of thanks will be presented in both Houses of Parliament.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha session scheduled to begin today. In a significant development, Om Birla was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for the second consecutive term, following a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The House adopted the motion through a voice vote on Wednesday.
Expressing his congratulations to Birla on his re-election, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the substantial responsibility associated with holding the post for a second term during the ‘Amrit Kaal.’ Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also extended his congratulations to Om Birla and highlighted the crucial role of the Lok Sabha Speaker as the final arbiter of the voice of the people. Gandhi emphasized that the Opposition this time represents the voice of the people more significantly than in the 17th Lok Sabha.
In his speech, Birla expressed confidence that the 18th Lok Sabha will remain steadfast in its commitment to preserving and safeguarding the Constitution created by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Birla emphasized the 18th Lok Sabha’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and the decentralization of powers within the country.
In his inaugural speech as the Leader of the Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi underscored the paramount importance of allowing the opposition’s voice to be heard in the House. Gandhi expressed his hope for cooperation and trust in the House, allowing the opposition to effectively raise the concerns of the people. Gandhi began his speech by congratulating Om Birla on his election as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second term.
“Mr Speaker, this House represents the voice of the people of India, and you, sir, are the final arbiter of that voice. Of course, the government has political power, but the opposition also represents the people of India,” Gandhi stated.
Highlighting the increased representation of the voices of the Indian people by the opposition in this term compared to the previous one, Gandhi emphasized the critical need for the opposition’s voice to be heard in the House.
“This time, the opposition represents significantly more of the voice of the people of India than it did last time. The opposition would like to assist you in your work and would want the house to function often and well. It is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust,” Gandhi asserted.
As the session coincides with the 49th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency, declared on June 25, 1975, the Speaker lauded all those who vehemently opposed the Emergency. Earlier, the INDIA bloc had demanded the position of Deputy Speaker. However, with no clear response from the BJP, the INDIA bloc proposed Congress MP K Suresh’s name for the Speaker’s post.
This is the first Lok Sabha session following the general elections, in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc garnered 234 seats. However, the BJP fell short of a majority on its own, securing only 240 seats. (With input from ANI)
