AP BJP president Purandeswari strong contender
K Varaprasada Rao
New Delhi : June 23: The inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha is set to begin on June 24. On the first two days, newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) will take their oaths. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to the pro tem Speaker, Bhartruhari Mahtab, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The election for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker is slated for June 26, with Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned seven-term MP, presiding over the session as the pro tem Speaker. The panel of chairpersons, appointed by the President and comprising MPs from various parties, will assist in conducting the proceedings.
On June 27, President Murmu will address a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. In the wake of the opposition’s INDIA bloc’s insistence that the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post be allocated to the BJP’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, there is a divide within the coalition.
While Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) has expressed support for the BJP’s decision, N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) advocates for a consensus candidate among the ruling alliance partners. Currently, GM Harish Balayogi, a newly elected TDP MP from the Amalapuram constituency, and Daggubati Purandeswari, the BJP’s Andhra Pradesh president, are considered leading contenders for the Speaker’s position.
Both are regarded as formidable candidates. There are also speculations that the BJP might retain the speaker’s post, potentially reappointing the outgoing Speaker, Om Birla. Constitutionally, the Speaker’s post becomes vacant immediately before the new Lok Sabha convenes.
With her extensive experience and political acumen, Purandeswari has emerged as a prominent contender for the role. If elected, she would be the second MP from Andhra Pradesh to hold this esteemed position, following TDP MP GMC Balayogi, who served as Speaker in the 12th Lok Sabha in March 1998.
The last two Lok Sabhas, during which the BJP held a majority, were presided over by Sumitra Mahajan and Om Birla, respectively. As the BJP navigates its alliances and portfolio allocations, Purandeswari’s name continues to be mentioned in key discussions.
Her potential appointment as Speaker could be seen as a strategic move to bolster ties with crucial allies like the TDP and JD(U), which are essential for forming a stable government. Furthermore, her elevation could resonate positively within Andhra Pradesh’s political circles.
