First session of 18th Lok Sabha today: NEET row, Pro tem Speaker election may top agenda

President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27.

The 18th Lok Sabha, which is set to meet for the first time on Monday, is expected to take up a host of issues including the election of the Speaker and NEET row. With the newly elected MPs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also take oath.

The Congress along with other non-NDA parties has already formed a common front against the Centre on various issues. Currently, the BJP has 240 seats in the House, with the National Democratic Alliance having 293. Meanwhile, the Opposition INDIA bloc has 234 MPs.

Here are the five things to watch out for.

Presidential address: President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27. The address will focus on Centre’s plans and focus areas for the year ahead.

Catch LIVE updates of 18th Lok Sabha session. 

Pro tem speaker row and election of the Speaker: The Opposition criticised the NDA government for sidelining Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha MP from the Congress, for the pro tem Speaker’s post. BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP from Cuttack, was named for the position. The INDIA bloc is expected to reject the role given to Suresh and two other Opposition MPs to assist Mahtab in administering oaths to the new members. The Congress has alleged that Suresh was overlooked by the BJP because he belongs to the Dalit community.

Also read: 'BJP government insulting the Opposition': K Suresh amid pro-tem Speaker row

UGC-NET and NEET row: The Opposition is expected to raise the alleged irregularities in competitive exams NEET and NET. The Centre recently replaced National Testing Agency Director General Subodh Singh and set up a seven-member panel to review the agency's functioning and recommend exam reforms.

New Criminal Laws: The Opposition is expected to bring up the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA), the Bharatiya Sakhsya Adhiniyam (BSA), and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanita (BNSS). Two two chief ministers from the INDIA bloc have been campaigning against it. Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee have urged the Centre to keep in abeyance the three laws which have been enacted to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Evidence Act.

Motion of Thanks: The debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address will begin on June 28. PM Modi is expected to respond to the debate on July 2 or 3.