• Source:JND
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Today’s election for the speaker in Lok Sabha seems to be leaning in NDA candidate Om Birla’s favour as five of 232 Opposition candidates could not cast their votes as they haven’t yet taken the oath as MPs in the lower house. Congress's Shashi Tharoor and Trinamool Congress's actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha are among these candidates. TMC’s Deepak Adhikari and Nurul Islam, SP’s Afzal Ansari and two independents-- Amritpal Singh and Engineer Rashid-- are the other MPs whose oath is pending. However, the list has two MPs from NDA faction as well.

The voting for the Lok Sabha speaker will take place at 11 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will move the motion to choose Om Birla as the speaker.

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In the Speaker election, victory hinges on the number of MPs present and voting. The absence of seven MPs would reduce the total count, thereby lowering the halfway mark needed to win. Although the Opposition secured 232 seats, it will be short of five MPs due to their absence, reducing their effective count to 227 assuming all others are present and vote.

The majority mark, consequently, would be 269. The NDA, which currently holds 293 MPs, is expected to receive support from the four MPs of YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress.

This marks the first instance in independent India's electoral history when such an election will occur. Up to now, individuals nominated by the ruling party for the speaker post have been elected unanimously. The NDA has chosen to nominate Om Birla again for this crucial position, while the Opposition has put forward Congress' K Suresh as their candidate against him. TMC expressed its discontent over the INDIA bloc’s candidacy, alleging that Suresh’s name was announced unilaterally by the Congress.

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Union Minister Rajnath Singh was tasked to reach a consensus with opposition parties, but the deliberations failed when the INDIA bloc demanded the Deputy Speaker post. Rahul Gandhi stated they were willing to support the BJP's nominee in exchange for the Deputy Speaker post, but the BJP refused to comply with the demand.