Times News Network, June 25, 2024
As BJP moved closer towards picking its Speaker choice, a confrontation seemed to be brewing with the opposition insisting on the deputy speaker’s post and indicating that it would field a candidate for the Speaker’s post if govt did not agree to its demand.
BJP began consultations with its allies on NDA’s candidate for Speaker a day ahead of nominations for the poll scheduled on Wednesday. There are indications that govt will convey its choice to opposition parties on Tuesday evening – a day before the poll.
INDIA bloc is considering its options and may force a contest although the Speaker has always been elected with consensus. The NDA, which enjoys a clear majority in Lok Sabha, gave little indication about its choice. as it weighs its options and looks to deny the opposition any opportunity to mount a political attack.
Union minister K Rammohan Naidu (TDP) said that NDA functionaries, including N Chandrababu Naidu, would take a decision on the matter, adding that no final decision had been conveyed to them yet.
A leader of another BJP ally said on the condition of anonymity that the BJP brass has held consultations with him, but declined to discuss the details.
With the theme of continuity marking many of its choices since it returned to office for a third term, there is a view among a section of NDA that Om Birla, Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha, may be nominated again. However, there was no official word on this.
Congress functionaries said they were waiting for a word from govt as part of consultations that are customary for the Speaker’s election. Senior Congress and opposition MPs like K Suresh and N K Premachandran said they were in favour of a consensus. “The post of Speaker goes to govt and deputy speaker’s post is for opposition,” they said.
While there is no clarity on who will take on NDA’s nominee, the row over the pro tem speaker’s post suggests that Suresh may be among the frontrunners. Also, NDA sources indicated that the deputy speaker’s post may be given to one of its allies.
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