Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav of RJD used the opportunity occasion to pitch for granting Leader of Opposition status to Congress.
Congratulating the Prime Minister for ensuring unanimous election of the Deputy Speaker, Yadav remarked that it would be great if Prime Minister showed “large heart” on the issue of the LoP.
Several leaders, including Anant Geete of Shiv Sena, Jithendra Reddy of TRS, P Karunakaran (CPI-M), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), M Srinivas Rao (TDP), M Rajmohan Reddy (YSRCP) and Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Akali Dal), congratulated Thambidurai.
Their main contention was that since Thambidurai hailed from a regional party, he should give more opportunity to regional and smaller parties to have their say.
Bhagwant Mann (AAP), a stand-up comedian, requested Thambidurai “to delay in ringing the bell” when members of small parties speak.
Tariq Hameed Kaara (PDP) said democracy was all about accommodation and hoped that he would be “very accommodative” as the Presiding Officer.
Minister Upendra Kushwaha (Rashtriya Lok Samiti Party) took a dig at the opposition remarking that at least today, those in the opposition may be feeling that “good days have come”.
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda complimented Modi for the “magnanimity” to take the entire House into confidence in the election of the Deputy Speaker.
Thambidurai said his party was for early passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and hoped the government would ensure that the measure, envisaging 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, will be brought at the earliest.
LJP leader and Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the election of the Deputy Speaker would help relieve “some tension” of the Speaker.
