Kamal Nath takes oath as pro tem speaker

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS):  Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday took oath as the pro tem speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

He was sworn-in by President Pranab Mukherjee. Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony.

Asked what can assure the Congress’ cooperation to the BJP-led NDA government in parliament, Kamal Nath said the “legislations left incomplete” during the previous government’s term should be “taken (up) on a priority (basis)”.

“Of course, we will oppose but it will be constructive opposition. Not the kind (of opposition) the BJP demonstrated in the 15th Lok Sabha,” he added.

Explaining further, he said the “first duty is that the interest of the nation and the interest of the people of the country should be served.”

Asked if the Congress will get to be the main opposition party with Leader of Opposition from its ranks as it lacks the required numbers, he said it was for the “speaker to decide upon Leader of Opposition”.

“It is necessary the house should have a leader of the opposition. This has been our parliamentary tradition. I believe the speaker will act according (to tradition),” he said.

Kamal Nath, one of the longest-serving MPs, advised first-time members of the Lok Sabha to “remember that their first duty is towards their constituency. Otherwise, there will be no second time”.

The Congress leader, who was the parliamentary affairs minister in the previous UPA government, was elected to the Lok Sabha for the ninth term from the Chhindwara constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

The pro tem speaker performs the duties of the office of the speaker from the commencement of the sitting of the Lok Sabha till the election of the speaker.