Stage set for LS Speaker's election as talks fail

OM BIRLA IS NDA'S PICK FOR LS SPEAKER; OPPN FIELDS KODIKUNNIL SURESH

- VINAY KUMAR & SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

As the 18th Lok Sabha is formally constituted after the oath-taking proceedings of the newly elected MPs, the ruling BJP-led NDA and a combative Opposition looks set for a face-off on the issue of electing the new Speaker, a rare instance since the Speaker’s choice has always been finalised through consensus.

On a day of hectic political activities and a series of meetings, the NDA government on Tuesday indicated its preference for continuity in its third term by fielding Om Birla, who was Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, for the key post again. However, its bid for consensus was thwarted by the Opposition, which forced an election by nominating Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress as its candidate.

The Opposition’s last-minute decision to go for a rare contest came after senior BJP leaders did not agree to its precondition that the INDIA bloc must be offered the post of Deputy Speaker in exchange for supporting Birla, who has the numbers on his side to emerge as the winner in case of an election.

A brief interaction involving Congress leader K.C. Venugopal and DMK’s T R Baalu from the Opposition side, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and J.P. Nadda, who is also the BJP president, at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s office in Parliament to evolve a consensus ended in acrimony as both sides stuck to their positions.

Both Opposition leaders walked out, with Venugopal accusing the government of not following the “convention” of appointing an Opposition candidate for the Deputy Speaker’s position and announcing the decision to field a candidate against Birla.

Union ministers Piyush Goyal of the BJP and Lalan Singh of the JD(U) accused the Opposition of resorting to pressure politics and setting forth preconditions despite senior ministers’ assurances that their demands would be considered when the time to pick the Deputy Speaker arrives.