Lok Sabha session to begin from June 24 with oath-taking, Speaker election

18th Lok Sabha session begins June 24 with oath-taking, pro-tem Speaker election, and President's address on June 27.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha beginning on June 24 will see oath-taking by newly elected members followed by election of the Lok Sabha Speaker on June 26 and President Droupadi Murmu's address to joint sitting of both the Houses on June 27.

The row over the appointment of BJP leader and seven-term member Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro tem Speaker is likely to cast a shadow over the session. The move has drawn flak from the Opposition, which alleged that the claim of Congress member K. Suresh to the post was overlooked by the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that Mr. Mahtab has had seven uninterrupted terms as a Lok Sabha member, making him eligible for the post, while Mr. Suresh lost elections in 1998 and 2004 which makes his current term as the fourth straight one in the lower house. Earlier, he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1999.

On Monday, President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to Mr. Mahtab as the pro tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Mr. Mahtab will then reach Parliament House and call the Lok Sabha to order at 11 a.m.

The proceedings will begin with members observing a moment of silence on the occasion of the first sitting of the 18th Lok Sabha. This will be followed by Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh placing on the table of the House the list of the members elected to the lower house.

Mr. Mahtab will then call upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, to take oath as member of the House.