Adhir Chowdhury seeks election of Deputy Lok Sabha Speaker, wants preference for Congress

On Wednesday, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury called for election of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha to be held in upcoming Monsoon session. Writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chowdhury reminded him that seat of Deputy Speaker must be filled eir by election or consensus as per constitutional mandate. He mentioned that this post is offered to opposition party by default.

According to him, this was an opportune moment as Rajya Sabha is also set to elect  Deputy Chairman. AIADMK's M Thambidurai served as Deputy Lok Sabha Speaker during first term of Modi government. However, this position is lying vacant since May 2019, which makes this longest period of a Lok Sabha functioning without a Deputy Speaker. But, proceedings of Lower House are t hampered in absence of Speaker owing to existence of a constitution-mandated panel of 10 MPs. 

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Monsoon session of Parliament

Monsoon session, delayed because of COVID-19 crisis, will be held from September 14 to October 1 without any weekend break. chambers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha shall be used to seat MPs. Already, secretariat of both Houses of Parliament have issued guidelines urging parliamentarians to wear masks and observe social distancing. On first day, Lok Sabha will conduct its proceedings from 9 am to 1 pm while Rajya Sabha members will transact business between 3 pm and 7 pm.

For rest of session, Lok Sabha members shall sit from 3 pm to 7 pm. On or hand, Rajya Sabha proceedings will take place from 9 am to 1 pm. two-hour break shall be used to disinfect Parliament. MPs, ir support staff and security staff will have to undergo a test for COVID-19 prior to beginning of session. Furrmore, Question Hour has been done away with amid  COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, re are 43,70,128 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 33,98,844 patients have been discharged while 73,890 deaths have been recorded.

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