Naidu to bid 'bye' if BJP doesn't budge; Will ‘98 be repeated? Reason for TDP vying for speaker’s post

NEW DELHI: Discussions for the formation of the third Modi Government is in full swing in Delhi. The BJP has put forward a formula of one cabinet minister for the party of the front with four MPs. If this formula is followed, the TDP will get four ministers and JD (U) three. However, the TDP is adamant about their demand for Speaker’s post. Chandrababu Naidu may even be ready to say goodbye if he does not get the Speaker’s post.

However, why is TDP insisting for the post? Let’s examine
The NDA is all set to form the third Modi government after the Lok Sabha election results turned positive. Unlike 2014 and 2019, the BJP did not get an absolute majority, so the support of the TDP and JDU parties is essential for the NDA. BJP, which has won 240 seats, needs 12 seats from JDU and 16 seats from TDP to get absolute majority. In this critical situation, the BJP cannot but accept the demands of both the parties at face value.

Therefore, TDP is insisting for the post of Speaker. This post is traditionally held by the ruling party at the center. Although this demand was not raised in the NDA meeting on Wednesday, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu conveyed this verbally. TDP sources said the move was made because Naidu was well aware of the importance of the Speaker's post. Especially when the government is faced with a no confidence motion in the House, it is the speaker who takes the crucial decision.

When Naidu pledged support to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government in 1998, he did not seek a cabinet ministership, but claimed the post of Speaker. GMC Balayogi was Naidu's nominee then. It was Balayogi who advised Giridhar Gamang to vote as per his 'conscience' in April 1999 when Vajpayee's government was defeated by a single vote in the crucial trust motion. So, the TDP knows exactly how crucial the role of the Speaker is. The act of allowing Gamang to vote had cost Vajpayee his government.