The post of the Deputy Speaker, vacant in the first two terms of the Narendra Modi government, will be filled this time. But in a break from tradition, the incumbent is likely to be from the NDA and not the Opposition, sources have indicated, making it clear that the government versus Opposition acrimony is likely to escalate. An announcement is likely soon, sources said.
Sources said the government is likely to take a hard line after the “breakdown of trust” with the Opposition during the dialogue yesterday over the Speaker post.
But there is also the question of keeping allies like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar happy. Both had their eyes on the Speaker post as insurance for the any split in their parties. The BJP had refused to relent.
There is speculation that this time, the post might go to Mr Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party. TDP’s GMC Balayogi was the Speaker when the NDA under Atal Bihar Vajpayee was in power and there is expectation that the post can now go to his son Harish Balayogi.
While a peace offering to the TDP might keep NDA’s internal harmony intact, it could bode trouble from another direction, by making the new muscular, combative Opposition extremely unhappy.
The Opposition, failing to get the spot of the Pro Tem Speaker had been angling for the Deputy Speaker post, which traditionally goes to it. But with the government brushing off its demands and its claim, they had forced a last-minute contest on the Speaker post.
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