Lok Sabha Speaker from South India? 'INDIA' front to block BJP MP 

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha 2024 polls have been concluded. The BJP, who fell short of a majority, was able to form the third Modi Government only with the support of the TDP and JD (U). It is a relief for the BJP that the cabinet formation went off without any major crisis. However, there are indications that the speaker election to be held on June 26 will not be that smooth. There is an uncertainty on who will be the candidate of the ruling NDA alliance.

Nitish Kumar's JD (U) has no objection on BJP deciding speaker’s post. However, one of the demands put forward by the TDP is the Speaker’s post. The BJP is confused when INDIA alliance came forward supporting this. The INDIA Front sees the Speaker election as the first chance to create problems within the NDA Front. Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that he would support a TDP member as speaker.

Sanjay Raut said that if the BJP gets the post of Speaker, TDP, JDU, LJP and RLD parties supporting the government, may split. After getting the post of TDP speaker during the Vajpayee government, was supporting from outside the government. There are speculations that if the deputy speaker post is not given to the opposition, the INDIA alliance may field a candidate for the speaker’s post. The alliance has not clarified their stand in this regard.

It is reported that the speaker election was discussed in the NDA meeting held at Union Minister Rajnath Singh's residence the other day. Amit Shah, J P Nadda, Chirag Paswan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh and others participated in this meeting. Meantime, in the absence of a single majority in the House, the speaker’s post is crucial. The BJP, who is aware of the importance of the post, will not be ready to give up the post.

Meantime, the BJP is proposing the formula of Speaker from Andhra Pradesh to solve the issue while keeping TDP along with them. The party reckons that a person from South India could benefit from the post. The BJP is suggesting the name of Andhra Pradesh party state president Daggubati Purandeswari. The BJP believes that if NTR's daughter and MP Purandeswari is brought to the Speaker's post, the TDP's dissent will change. The name of present Speaker Om Birla is also under consideration.