Decode Politics: What is the Deputy Speaker’s role and how often has it been an Opposition MP?

With the Opposition’s increased strength in Lok Sabha, its members are hoping to get the post of Deputy Speaker. There was no Deputy Speaker for the entire duration of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). M Thambi Durai of the AIADMK, a BJP ally at the time, was Deputy Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19).

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the Opposition was willing to support the NDA’s candidate for Speaker provided the government followed parliamentary convention and gave the Deputy Speaker’s post to the Opposition.

The Opposition had the post of Deputy Speaker continuously from 1990 through 2014.

The government has sought support from the Opposition for Om Birla, its candidate for Speaker, but has been unwilling to extend any assurances on the post of Deputy Speaker. The INDIA bloc has, therefore, forced a contest by nominating K Suresh of the Congress as its candidate for Speaker. It is unclear, however, whether the Trinamool Congress will support Suresh.

What does the Constitution say about the Deputy Speaker?

According to Article 95(1), the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker if the post is vacant. The Deputy Speaker has the same general powers as the Speaker when presiding over the House. All references to the “Speaker” in the Rules are deemed to be references to the Deputy Speaker as well for the times when he or she presides.

Both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker must be appointed “as soon as may be”. Article 93 states that “The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker”.

Article 178 contains the corresponding provision for the Speakers and Deputy Speakers in the state Assemblies.

Is it mandatory under the