The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha begins today, June 24th, with the newly elected legislators taking their oaths. However, the session is anticipated to be dominated by opposition concerns over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, and the recent tragic train accident in West Bengal. The opposition is likely to hold the government accountable for these issues, raising questions about exam integrity and railway safety measures.
With the post of Deputy Speaker likely to remain vacant, opposition parties may nominate a candidate for the position of Speaker in the 18th Lok Sabha. This development comes after BJP’s Om Birla, who served as Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, was elected from Kota in the recent polls. The election for the Speaker’s post will be held on June 26. Despite gaining 233 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition’s INDIA bloc fell short of forming a majority government, with the NDA returning to power for a third term. Both NDA and INDIA are keen on securing the Speaker’s post, which symbolizes strength and control over the legislative process in the Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held from June 24 to July 3, with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both houses on June 27.
The recent Assembly election results in various Indian states provide insights into potential vote swings in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. To analyze these implications, The Hindu presents an interactive graphic that examines the scenarios necessary for the BJP/NDA to secure a strong victory or for the opposition to weaken their position.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remark equating the Opposition’s efforts to woo Muslim voters with ‘mujra’ has sparked outrage among Opposition leaders, who have accused him of using divisive language and stoking communal tensions. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that Modi’s anxiety over the upcoming election results was evident in his rhetoric, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi noted that Modi’s language and the BJP’s seat share were both declining.
