Congress attacks PM over consensus remark amid LS speaker row
What's the story
The Congress on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "hypocrisy-laden pravachan" on cooperation, after the National Democratic Alliance and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance failed to reach a consensus on the appointment of Lok Sabha speaker. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized PM Modi for turning the speaker's appointment into a "contest," stating that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was a "personal, political, and moral defeat" for the prime minister.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and the opposition alliance tried to agree on electing the Lok Sabha speaker unanimously. Reports indicate that the INDIA bloc offered to back the NDA's candidate if they were given the deputy speaker position, but the ruling alliance did not agree. Consequently, Congress MP K Suresh and former Speaker Om Birla will compete in the first speaker elections since 1952 set for Wednesday.
Statement
'PM has broken tradition...': Ramesh
In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Barely 24 hours after his hypocrisy-laden pravachan on consensus and cooperation the non-biological PM has made a contest for the post of Lok Sabha speaker inevitable. Convention has been that the speaker is elected unanimously and the deputy speaker's post goes to the Opposition." "The non-biological PM has broken this tradition," Ramesh added.
Twitter Post
Read Ramesh's post here
Barely 24 hours after his hypocrisy-laden pravachan on consensus and cooperation the non-biological PM has made a contest for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker inevitable.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 25, 2024
Convention has been that the Speaker is elected unanimously and the Deputy Speaker's post goes to the…
18th Lok Sabha
PM's statement on consensus ahead of Parliament session
Ramesh's comments came a day after PM Modi said the government intends to build consensus to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the Indian people. "We believe...to run the country a consensus is of utmost importance. So, it will be our constant efforts to serve Maa Bharti and fulfill the aspirations and ambitions of the 140 crore people, with everyone's consent and by taking everyone together," the PM said on Monday ahead of Parliament's inaugural session.