PM Narendra Modi with TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. (PTI)
BJP top brass have also told their alliance partners that they would be interested in giving the post of Vice Chairman to one of their alliance partners.
During the Lok Sabha Speaker election, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the largest party in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has approached its alliance partner for the post. Senior leaders from the BJP have called various allies to discuss the Speaker’s post with them. It also includes discussions with minor allies in the BJP-led NDA.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the NDA alliance partner has assured full support to the candidate if the BJP decides to field this post. “Allies have been called to ask for advice for presidential candidates. However, most of the allies do not give a choice or a choice of a specific person,” a source told CNN-News18.
It has been sent to the BJP top brass that the NDA will continue to be a cohesive unit under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that the decision to decide on this post will be binding and acceptable to all alliance partners.
BJP top brass have also told their alliance partners that they would be interested in giving the post of Vice Chairman to one of their alliance partners. However, the opposition is also likely to stake a claim to this post as a number also with them to ask this question.
Several allies, including senior MPs, have also asked the BJP to field a candidate for the post of Speaker who can reach a consensus. “2014 and 2019 were different when the BJP had an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. But this time there will be a better and more aggressive opposition supported by good numbers. Therefore, the position of the Speaker becomes more important,” said some alliance partners to the government.
A special session of Parliament will begin on June 24. Although this session is mainly for the swearing in of all elected members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. On the third day, on June 26, the Soeaker election will be held. Now, Om Birla has been in the office of Lok Sabha Speaker since last five years.
But before the election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, there will be a post of Speaker Pro-tem who will preside over the House for the first three days until the Speaker is elected. The common practice for giving this post is to make the most senior member the Protem Speaker.
Government sources also told News18 that the leadership will approach all political parties, including the opposition to elect the Speaker by consensus. The numbers are satisfactory as far as NDA candidates are concerned. Union Defense Minister and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh, will reach out to all political parties to seek consensus.
Very recently, the newly appointed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
On June 26, the process to elect the Speaker of the Lok Sabha will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing the names of NDA candidates. This move is expected to be supported by senior minister Rajnath Singh. In addition, the INDI alliance candidate for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker will also be proposed. “All our alliance partners will be proposed for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker,” a top source told News18
If the opposition nominates another candidate for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, an election will be held for that post. If there is no opposition candidate, then by hand count, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha will be elected.
After the Lok Sabha Speaker election on June 26, PM Narendra Modi is expected to introduce the Council of Ministers in the Lok Sabha. The next day, which is June 27, the Rajya Sabha will also resume. President Droupadi Murmu will deliver a joint speech to both sides of the DPRD on June 27. After that, the discussion of Usul Syukur will begin in both sides of the DPRD. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 2) and Wednesday (July 3).
July 3 is the last day for a special session of Parliament before Parliament reconvenes on July 22 again after a break. The Union Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 22.
