New Delhi, June 10- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to start the process of election of Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. The Congress chief said that keeping this post vacant is not a good sign for the democratic politics of India and is also a violation of the sound provisions of the Constitution.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Kharge wrote that from the first to the sixteenth Lok Sabha, there has been a Deputy Speaker in each House. He said that it has been an established tradition to appoint the Deputy Speaker from among the members of the main opposition party.
Kharge said, “This is the first time in the history of independent India that this post has remained vacant for two consecutive Lok Sabha terms. No Deputy Speaker was elected during the 17th Lok Sabha and this precedent continues in the 18th Lok Sabha.
The Congress chief said, "This is not a good sign for the democratic politics of India and is also a violation of the well-crafted provisions of the Constitution." Kharge's demand comes ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament beginning on July 21.