With reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements : 1. As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix. 2. There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party. 3. The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings. 4. The well established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. Statement 1: Rule 8(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha states that the election of a Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix. Thus, statement 1 is correct. 2. Statement 2: There is no mandatory provision in the Constitution or the Rules of Procedure that the Deputy Speaker must be elected from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party. While there has been a convention to offer the post to the opposition, it is not mandatory and has not always been followed. Thus, statement 2 is incorrect. 3. Statement 3: Article 95(1) of the Constitution states that while the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker. When the Deputy Speaker acts as Speaker or presides over a sitting of the House, he/she has the same power as the Speaker. The rulings given by the person presiding over the sitting are considered final and cannot be appealed in the House. Thus, statement 3 is correct. 4. Statement 4: The well established parliamentary practice is that the Speaker fixes the date for the election. Members propose candidates via motions, which are then seconded by other members. The motion is not typically moved by the Speaker and seconded by the Prime Minister; rather, the government usually proposes a candidate, and the opposition might propose another. Thus, statement 4 is incorrect. 5. Since statements 1 and 3 are correct, the correct option is (A).