Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) from the INDIA bloc have decided not to assist pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab in administering oaths to the newly elected Lok Sabha members. These MPs, who were initially part of a panel to support the pro-tem speaker, are reportedly upset by President Droupadi Murmu's decision to appoint Bhartruhari Mahtab, a BJP leader and seven-term MP, over K Suresh, an eight-time Congress MP.

INDIA Bloc
Image Source: PM India

President Droupadi Murmu had recommended five senior members to assist Mahtab: K Suresh (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste (both BJP), and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC). However, all the opposition MPs on this panel have now decided not to perform their duties.

Furthermore, all INDIA bloc MPs will gather at the renowned Gandhi Statue in Parliament today, June 24, at 10:45 am, before the commencement of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. They intend to march to the Lok Sabha holding copies of the Constitution, aiming to send a strong message to the Modi Administration 3.0.

Prior to this, all Congress MPs are set to convene in Parliament at 10 am to devise their strategy for the upcoming session.

At the outset, all elected MPs will hold a moment of silence before the first session of the new Lok Sabha begins. Following this, the Secretary-General will announce the names of all MPs in both Hindi and English in the chamber.

Subsequently, the oath-taking process will commence, during which all MPs, including the prime minister and other members of the council of ministers, will take the oath, sign the members' roll, and take their seats.

President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint session of both houses on June 27. The debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address will begin on June 28, followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the debate on July 2.

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