BJP likely to retain Speaker’s post

 New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh has been assigned the task of building a consensus within the ruling NDA for the positions of Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Speculation is rife within the alliance that the BJP might retain the Speaker's post, as it did during its previous two governments, while offering the Deputy Speaker's post to one of its allies.

With the JD(U) already holding the Deputy Chairman position in the Rajya Sabha, there is buzz that the TD could be offered the Deputy Speaker's post, which remained vacant during the Modi government's previous term. However, sources indicate that the Opposition camp is also planning to contest the Speaker's post if it is not given the Deputy Speaker's post. Buoyed by their performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition aims to demonstrate their numbers by ensuring the ruling NDA's nominee does not go unchallenged. Despite this, the Opposition has yet to make a final decision on the issue.

The NDA currently holds 293 MPs, while the Opposition camp has 236 MPs. The next Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected on June 26, with BJP leaders D. Purandeswari, Radha Mohan Singh, and Om Birla being considered for the position. Parliament is set to commence on June 24 and will conclude on July 3.

Amid reports that NDA ally TD is eyeing the Speaker's post, the Opposition has even claimed they might back the TD if it fields its nominee. While the JD(U) has maintained that it will support the BJP's choice for the Speaker's post, the TD seeks a consensus to be built within the NDA.