Political Slugfest Continues: BJP To Sideline Opposition For Deputy Speaker Post, Say Sources

political slugfest continues: bjp to sideline opposition for deputy speaker post, say sources

The post of Deputy Speaker, vacant during the second term of the Narendra Modi government, is set to be filled again. However, in a departure from tradition, sources indicate that the new Deputy Speaker will likely come from the NDA rather than the Opposition, signaling a potential escalation in government-opposition tensions. An official announcement is expected soon.

Sources reveal that the government might offer the Deputy Speaker position to Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP). There is speculation that TDP leader GMC Balayogi's son, Harish Balayogi, might be considered for the Deputy Speaker role.

On Wednesday, while seeking consensus for their Speaker candidate Om Birla, the government made it clear that they were not considering the Deputy Speaker post or the Opposition's claim to it at this time. This stance frustrated the Opposition, which fielded K Suresh—one of their senior parliamentarians and a presumed choice for Pro Tem Speaker—against Om Birla.

During the first term of the NDA government, the Deputy Speaker role was held by then-ally AIADMK's M Thambidurai.

Congress leader K Suresh highlighted the ongoing issue: "They (the BJP) denied (the post to) us in the last two terms of the Lok Sabha, saying that you are not the recognized Opposition. Now, we are recognized as the Opposition. The Deputy Speaker post is our right, but they are not ready to give it to us."