Delhi, 10 June (H.S.): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to expedite the selection of a Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, a position vacant for the last two consecutive Lok Sabha terms. He emphasized that this vacancy contradicts parliamentary traditions and democratic norms, as the Deputy Speaker role has historically been filled in previous Lok Sabhas.

Kharge highlighted that the Deputy Speaker is usually appointed from the largest opposition party, a practice maintained from the first to the sixteenth Lok Sabha. He pointed out that, for the first time in India's history, no Deputy Speaker has been elected during the 17th and 18th Lok Sabhas. Referring to Article 93 of the Constitution, which mandates the election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker, he stressed the importance of this role, calling it the second most significant position in Parliament. Kharge requested the Prime Minister to address this issue promptly to uphold the democratic process and maintain the dignity of the House.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar