by Ashis Sinha
New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress has urged the Centre to appoint Samajwadi Party’s Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad as the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, as reported by India Today.
Awadhesh Prasad emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha elections from the Faizabad constituency, which encompasses Ayodhya.
As of now, the Centre has not yet announced the schedule for the election of the Deputy Speaker, a position that remained vacant during the 17th Lok Sabha.
The opposition has nominated a candidate with significant political and symbolic significance. Awadhesh Prasad, a Dalit leader, secured the Faizabad seat, a general constituency, defeating BJP’s Lallu Singh by a margin exceeding 50,000 votes, garnering widespread attention.
Critics from the opposition have lambasted the BJP for its failure to retain the seat despite the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The role of the Deputy Speaker holds equivalent legislative authority as the Speaker and assumes administrative duties in the Speaker’s absence due to death, illness, or other circumstances.
Traditionally, the Deputy Speaker is elected from a party other than the ruling party, ensuring a balanced and accountable democratic parliament.