New Delhi: All MPs from the Opposition INDIA bloc have entered the Lok Sabha together at the commencement of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. The leaders gathered at the location where the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was placed earlier, carrying a copy of the Constitution as a symbolic gesture of unity.

The Congress MPs also convened at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office in Parliament House earlier today.

The first session, which began today, will witness the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected Members of Parliament. PM Narendra Modi and other prominent cabinet ministers have already taken their oath. A "Swagatam" cutout has been placed at the Parliament Makar Dwar to welcome the newly elected MPs.

Expectations for the first session are high, with the opposition planning to confront the BJP-led NDA government on various issues, including the election of the Speaker, allegations of paper leaks in NEET-UG and UGC-NET, and the appointment of the pro-tem Speaker.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Bharatiya Janata Party lMP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Mahtab will oversee the oath-taking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, and other members of the House.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will continue until July 3 for the oath/affirmation of newly elected Members. The 264th Session of the Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3.

 

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Mumbai, May 9 (PTI): India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to allow him to remain with the domestic giants, a month after asking for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to switch to Goa.

In April, Jaiswal surprised everyone by writing to the MCA to seek its approval for a shock move to Goa. On its part, the MCA too had swiftly approved Jaiswal's request.

PTI is in possession of Jaiswal's email to the MCA in which he said he is available to represent Mumbai in the next domestic season.

"I the undersigned would request your goodself to consider my request in withdrawing my NOC given to me as I had some family plans in shifting to Goa which for now has been curtailed !," Jaiswal wrote.

"So I sincerely request MCA to allow me to play for Mumbai this season! I have not submitted the NOC to BCCI nor to Goa Cricket Association!," he added.

Jaiswal, who moved from Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi to Mumbai as a young player and rose through the ranks to make his debut across formats for India over the last couple of years, was also believed to have shifted to Goa from Mumbai owing to the prospect of becoming their captain.

A packed international calendar perhaps would not have allowed the 23-year-old Jaiswal a lot of time to spend with Goa, but becoming their skipper would have given him some experience in major leadership roles.

The secretary of the Goa Cricket Association, Shamba Desai had earlier confirmed to PTI that Jaiswal would be their captain with the Goa team being promoted from Plate division to Elite ahead of the 2025-26 season.