The Narendra Modi is committed to the smooth running of Parliament and will go the extra mile to accommodate the Opposition, according to the new Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
On his first day in office, Naidu said the Government will adopt a ‘3-D’ formula – debate, discussion and decision.
It would, however, consciously avoid the fourth D of ‘disruption’.
The new dispensation will not be averse to going the extra mile to accommodate the Opposition, Naidu told reporters soon after assuming charge on Wednesday.
“I am not blaming anybody. People also want to have a proper debate in both Houses....Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed for debate on any issue of public importance....We are ready to go the extra mile to accommodate the opposition as far as debate and discussion is concerned,” he said.
Naidu, who was flanked by Ministers of State Santosh Gangwar and Prakash Javadekar, steered clear of questions on the issue of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Leader of Opposition “We have not discussed the issue. I have no comments to offer,” he said when asked whether the Congress will get the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, where it has secured just 44 seats.
“Former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, who is the senior most member of the Lok Sabha, will be the Protem Speaker, Naidu said.
The Government’s recommendation on Nath was conveyed to President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.
As Protem Speaker, Nath’s responsibility will be to swear in the newly elected MPs and also facilitate the election of the Speaker.
Former Union Minister Sumitra Mahajan, a BJP veteran who has been elected from Indore for the eighth time, is tipped to become the next Lok Sabha Speaker.
A special session of the Lower House is likely to be convened from June 2.