Who will be Lok Sabha Speaker? Battle rages as INDIA bloc looks to exploit 'rift' in NDA

NEW DELHI: The Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha is likely to be elected on June 26 but speculation over who will be the candidate of the ruling alliance shows no signs of abating.

Days after the opposition INDIA bloc insisted that the Lok Sabha Speaker's post must be allocated to the 'kingmakers' of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party -- different opinions have cropped up in the BJP-led bloc.

The BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats – 32 short of the majority mark. With 16 and 12 Lok Sabha seats respectively, N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Nitish Kumar's JD(U) emerged as the kingmakers, becoming indispensable for the formation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government.

While the JD(U) has said it will back the BJP's pick for the Speaker post, the TDP suggested that the partners of the ruling alliance must finalise a consensus candidate.

"The NDA partners will sit together and decide who our candidate for the Speaker is going to be. Once a consensus is reached, we will field that candidate and all partners, including the TDP, will support the candidate," TDP national spokesperson Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy said.

The contest for the position as of now seems to be between Daggubati Purandeswari, the BJP's Andhra Pradesh president, and GM Harish Balayogi, a first-time TDP MP from the Amalapuram constituency. Both are considered strong contenders for the post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said all partners of the opposition INDIA bloc would ensure support for the TDP if it fields a candidate for the Lok Sabha Speaker's election. Raut said the Lok Sabha Speaker's election is crucial and alleged that if the BJP gets the post, it will break the TDP, JD(U) and the political outfits of Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary.

"We have the experience that BJP betrays the people who support it," Raut said, adding: "I hear the TDP wants to field its candidate. If that happens, INDIA bloc partners will discuss the issue and we will try to ensure that all the INDIA alliance partners extend support to the TDP."

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also claimed that if the BJP gets the Speaker's post, it would start horse-trading of JD(U) and TDP MPs.

INDIA bloc has expressed its intention to field its own candidate for the Speaker position, but political commenters suggested that the opposition alliance may step back from the post if the position of deputy Speaker is given.

The deputy Speaker's post has been vacant for the past five years, and the opposition hopes that this time it will be filled. Historically, the deputy Speaker's post has been filled by opposition parties, which strengthens democratic norms and ensures the continuity of the Speaker's office

The Speaker has significant powers, including the ability to decide when a question can be asked, expunge remarks of MPs, disqualify or suspend members, and pass Bills based on voice votes. The Speaker also plays a key role in maintaining order in the House and ensuring that the rules are followed.

Presiding Over House Proceedings: The Speaker oversees the sessions of the Lok Sabha, ensuring discipline and decorum among members. He/She decides the agenda for parliamentary meetings and interpret procedural rules, permitting motions such as adjournments, no-confidence, and censure motions.

Enforcing Quorum and Disciplinary Action: In the absence of a quorum, the Speaker adjourns or suspends meetings until the required attendance is met. The Speaker has the power to punish unruly behavior and even disqualify members on grounds of defection under the 10th schedule of the Constitution.

Fixing the Agenda of the House: The Speaker, in consultation with other members of the business committee and the Prime Minister, fixes the agenda of the meetings of the House, ensuring timely debates and discussions on important issues.

Conducting the Business of the House: The Speaker conducts the business of the House, allowing members to introduce bills or move motions, recognizing members on the floor, and fixing time limits for debates.

Decision about a Money Bill: If a dispute arises over whether a bill is a Money Bill or not, the Speaker makes the final decision, which cannot be challenged.

Casting Vote: In case of a tie over any bill, the Speaker exercises their casting vote, contributing to important legislations. Protecting Privileges of the Members of the House: The Speaker acts as the guardian of the privileges of the MPs and the House, ensuring that members are protected from any infringement.

Role regarding the Committees of the House: The Speaker plays an important role in the composition of committees, being the ex-officio Chairman of some key committees and nominating the chairmen of other committees.