Speaker Election Battle Lines Drawn as NDA and Opposition Fail to Reach Consensus
The battle for the coveted post of Lok Sabha Speaker intensified on Wednesday as the ruling BJP-led NDA and the opposition bloc failed to reach a consensus on a mutually acceptable candidate.
NDA Fields Om Birla, Opposition Counters with K Suresh
The NDA has nominated veteran BJP parliamentarian Om Birla, representing the Kota constituency in Rajasthan, as its Speaker candidate. The opposition, spearheaded by the Indian National Congress (INC), has countered by fielding senior Congress leader K Suresh from Kerala's Mavelikkara constituency.
Midday Showdown in Parliament
The election for the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 11 am. The numbers game favors the ruling NDA, with 293 members in the 542-member House (excluding the vacant Wayanad seat). The opposition bloc, known as INDIA, has 233 members.
YSRCP Backs NDA Candidate
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), with seven MPs in the Lok Sabha, has decided to throw its weight behind NDA candidate Om Birla, bolstering the ruling coalition's tally.
Consensus Failure and Deputy Speaker Demand
Initial talks between the government and the opposition had hinted at a possible consensus, but discussions broke down over the issue of the Deputy Speaker's post. The opposition demanded a commitment that this position would be given to their camp in return for supporting the NDA's Speaker candidate. However, the BJP-led NDA rejected any conditional support.
TMC Expresses Discontent
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), a major opposition party, has expressed dissatisfaction over not being consulted before the opposition bloc decided to field K Suresh. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee denounced the move as unilateral.
Battle Lines Drawn for Suresh vs. Birla
Om Birla emerged victorious in the Kota constituency by a margin exceeding 41,000 votes in the recent general elections. K Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha member, served as a Union Minister in the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Deputy Speaker Post: Bone of Contention
The issue of the Deputy Speaker's post has become a significant bone of contention between the government and the opposition. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi asserted that, as per convention, this position should be allocated to the opposition. However, BJP MP Piyush Goyal countered, stating that the Speaker should be chosen unanimously, as per tradition, without partisan influence.
Stormy Parliament Session
The failure to reach a consensus on the Speaker's post has added to the already volatile atmosphere in Parliament. The first day of the 18th Lok Sabha session was marked by a bitter standoff between the government and the opposition over the appointment of pro tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab. The opposition accused the government of deviating from tradition by not appointing the senior-most member of the House to this temporary post.
As the election for the Speaker looms, the battle lines are firmly drawn between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, with the Deputy Speaker's post emerging as a key bargaining chip. The outcome will have significant implications for the functioning and balance of power within the Lower House of Parliament.
