Lok Sabha Speaker's post: Why the INDIA bloc is forcing a contest, what it means
opposition bloc, has forced a contest for the post of the Lok Sabha speaker which has been decided with consensus for decades. While the NDA has fielded former Speaker Om Birla, INDIA has picked Congress leader and senior-most Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh.
As per the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the first such contest was in 1952 between GV Mavalankar and Shankar Shantaram. Mavalankar won with 394 votes whereas Shantaram got 55. The second such fight happened in 1976 between Baliram Bhagat and Jagannath Rao. Bhagat won with 344 votes while Jagannath Rao got 58.
NDA candidate Birla was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the previous 17th Lok Sabha. Birla's name was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was supported by all major opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, and BJD. The YSRCP and TDP also supported Birla's candidature.
Why the speaker's role is important
The Speaker’s role is paramount when it comes to proving majority on the floor of the House or in case the anti-defection law comes into play. When it comes to disputes on the floor of the House, the Speaker's decision is final.
As the head of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker is the head and principal spokesperson of the house. The Speaker has to maintain order and decorum in the House and can adjourn the proceedings of the House or suspend it in case of an absence of decorum. The Speaker is considered the final interpreter of the provisions of the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha.
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