President Droupadi Murmu will soon address the joint sitting of Parliament, marking her first presidential speech since the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Following the President’s address, both Houses of Parliament will move a motion of thanks, which will then be discussed by the members.
The 18th Lok Sabha’s first session began on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha session starting today.
Congress chief and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his expectations for the address, emphasizing that it should reflect the President’s voice, not the government’s.
“Let’s see what new programs they are going to introduce and how many were implemented last year and the year before. We expect a good speech this year. It should not be a government speech; it should be the President’s address,” he stated.
Similarly, SP chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav acknowledged the tradition of the President’s address, noting that while it is customary, it often reflects the government’s stance.
Earlier on Wednesday, Om Birla was re-elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker. The motion, moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was adopted through a voice vote.
In his speech, Birla called for a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha, urging it to be a hub of creative thinking and new ideas. He emphasized the importance of establishing high parliamentary traditions and dignity, aiming to fulfill the resolve of Viksit Bharat.
This marks the first Lok Sabha session after the general elections, where the NDA secured 293 seats and the INDIA bloc obtained 234 seats. The BJP, however, did not achieve a majority independently, securing only 240 seats.