The first of many standoffs

Lok Sabha MPs attend the orientation programme for the first-time parliamentarians of the 17th Lok Sabha, at Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi, on July 3, 2019. File Pic/Getty Images

Ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, the NDA government and the INDIA bloc sparred on the issue of Pro-tem Speaker with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing the Congress of resorting to lies and the opposition threatening to refuse to join the panel of chairpersons in the House.

President Droupadi Murmu had appointed BJP leader and seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who is tasked with administering the oath and affirmation to the newly-elected members of the lower house and preside over the election of the Speaker.

The President had also named five senior members - K Suresh (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP) and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC) to assist Mahtab in the process that will take place over the first three days of the Lok Sabha Session commencing on June 24.

The contention

Appointment of BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro-tem Speaker over K Suresh (Congress) by President Droupadi Murmu

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