New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to hold the election for the post of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker “without any further delay”.
In his letter on Tuesday, Kharge highlighted that the post of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker has remained vacant for two consecutive terms, stating that this not only undermines India’s democratic ethos but also violates the well-established provisions of the Constitution, citing Article 93.
Urgency to fill the post
It stipulates that the Lok Sabha must hold elections to the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker and fill the vacancy promptly.
He has stated in a social media post on “X”, “From the First to the Sixteenth Lok Sabha, every House has had a Deputy Speaker. By and large, it has been a well-established convention to appoint the Deputy Speaker from among the members of the principal opposition party.”
He noted that while the Deputy Speaker’s position was filled since the first to the sixteenth Lok Sabha in independent India’s history. However, for the first time, this position has remained vacant for the two consecutive Lok Sabha terms.
My letter to PM Shri @narendramodi on the urgency to initiate the process of electing a Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha without any further delay.
From the First to the Sixteenth Lok Sabha, every House has had a Deputy Speaker. By and large, it has been a well-established… pic.twitter.com/WUyIPlTVqx
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 10, 2025
This omission has undermined parliamentary conventions and unchecked governance. He stressed on the fact that electing a Deputy Speaker would uphold democratic governance. With the monsoon session set to commence on July 21, the Congress chief has emphasised that the fulfillment of this post is long overdue.
Importance of the Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha
Deputy Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha itself amongst its members after the election of the Speaker has taken place. He acts as the presiding authority in leave or absence caused by the death or absence of the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
Conventionally, this post has been traditionally offered to the member of the opposition, who is expected to act in a non-partisan manner, although it is not mandated by the constitution.
