The BJP’s ruling coalition and the Congress’ INDIA opposition bloc will go head-to-head Wednesday in a battle for the Speaker’s post – arguably one of the most important in a parliamentary democracy and to be held for the first time since 1952 – after the two failed to agree a division of seats.
The election will see the BJP’s Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota in Rajasthan, up against the Congress’ Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Kerala’s Mavelikara.
Mr Birla is likely to win given the BJP-led alliance’s majority; the Lok Sabha Speaker is elected by a simple majority of MPs voting and the ruling coalition can call on 293 votes to the INDIA bloc’s 232.
There was much drama this morning – ahead of the noon deadline to file nominations – as the BJP sought the opposition’s consensus over the re-appointment of Mr Birla as the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were so tasked.
Mr Singh and Mr Rijiju met INDIA bloc leaders, including the Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, and were told consensus was not a problem, so long as the Deputy Speaker’s post is allotted to the opposition.
The deputy’s chair is traditionally reserved for an opposition MP to ensure a balanced House.
The post was not filled in the second Modi government (2019-2024), but in the first (2014-2019), it was awarded to an ally of the ruling BJP – the AIADMK’s M Thambidurai held the position.
Unfortunately for the BJP, the meeting with the opposition leaders did not go as hoped; the INDIA bloc said it was ready to support Mr Birla’s candidate providing it was given the deputy’s post.
Sources told NDTV the BJP was not forthcoming on this demand; the party reportedly wanted immediate consensus for Mr Birla and said a decision on his deputy would be taken later.
The opposition, however, refused to play ball and, as the clock ticked down to the noon deadline, whispers emerged that the Congress’ K Suresh would be offered as an alternative to Om Birla.
And so it happened; as visuals showed senior leaders from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance accompanying Mr Birla to file his papers, it was confirmed that Mr Suresh had submitted his name.
In the inevitable back-and-forth to follow, BJP sources told NDTV efforts had been made to build consensus with an opposition that responded with “pressure politics”. Sources claimed the Congress’ KC Venugopal and TR Baalu of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK insisted on a commitment from the BJP – one to the effect that the Deputy Speaker would be a member of the INDIA grouping.
Sources in the BJP, which was unwilling to offer such an assurance, have now blamed the opposition’s “lack of commitment led to a failure of consensus”.
