Historic Lok Sabha Speaker Election: INDIA Bloc Fields K Suresh Against NDA’s Om Birla Amidst Political Standoff

Historic Lok Sabha Speaker Election: INDIA Bloc Fields K Suresh Against NDA’s Om Birla Amidst Political Standoff”

In a historic turn of events, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Tuesday nominated Congress leader K Suresh as their candidate for the Speaker’s position against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee, Om Birla. This marks the first time in Indian history that a Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected through a vote due to the absence of consensus between the ruling NDA and the opposition. The decision followed a contentious standoff where Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s T R Baalu walked out of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s office, refusing to support Birla without securing a commitment for the Deputy Speaker’s position for the opposition.

Venugopal asserted that the BJP was unwilling to commit to offering the Deputy Speaker’s post to the opposition. Despite efforts by Union ministers Amit Shah, J P Nadda, and Rajnath Singh to persuade opposition leaders to endorse the NDA nominee, the impasse remained. Sources revealed that over 10 sets of nominations were filed in support of Birla, including endorsements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Shah, Singh, and Nadda, as well as BJP allies like the Telugu Desam Party, the Janata Dal-United, the Janata Dal-Secular, and the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas. Conversely, three sets of nominations were filed in support of Suresh, a seasoned Dalit leader and eight-term MP.

The standoff underscores the deepening rift between the ruling party and the opposition. The INDIA bloc, comprising various opposition parties, is keen on ensuring that the Deputy Speaker’s position, traditionally given to the opposition, is honored. The BJP, on the other hand, has strategically fielded Birla, a seasoned politician with a strong electoral mandate, having won the Kota Lok Sabha seat by over 41,000 votes. The NDA’s reluctance to assure the Deputy Speaker position to the opposition has intensified the political tussle.

Previously, sources indicated that if a consensus could be reached on the NDA’s Speaker candidate, the Deputy Speaker position might be allotted to the opposition, as was done in 2014 when AIADMK’s M Thambi Durai was appointed Deputy Speaker. The position has been vacant since 2019. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, mentioned that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had contacted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking support for the NDA’s Speaker candidate. However, the opposition insisted that the Deputy Speaker role should be reserved for them, following established convention. Gandhi noted that Rajnath Singh agreed to consider the request but had not followed up, highlighting a significant point of contention.

The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker has become a focal point for broader political struggles between the NDA and the INDIA bloc. It represents not just a procedural election but a battle for upholding parliamentary conventions and ensuring balanced representation in key parliamentary roles. As the 18th Lok Sabha session progresses, the outcome of this election will have significant implications for the functioning of the house and the broader political landscape in India. The opposition’s unified stand and the BJP’s strategic maneuvers will be crucial in determining the next Speaker and the future parliamentary dynamics.

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