The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

Parties to decide on Speaker, Deputy Speaker, says Birla

NDA leaders hold meet at Rajnath residence, Speaker issue discussed

OUTGOING LOK Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday said it was for political parties to decide the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Birla’s remarks come at a time when the BJP’S NDA allies — the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United) — have been making differing statements over the Speaker’s post.

The TDP has said that an “NDA candidate” will be selected for the post while JD(U) national general secretary KC Tyagi said his party would support whatever decision the BJP takes.

In a related developmen­t, a meeting of NDA leaders was held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence on Sunday to discuss the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. Sources said the issue of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker also came up during the meeting.

With the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha set to start on June 24 and the elections for the Speaker’s post expected on June 26, Birla did not comment on whether he would continue as Speaker for another term.

When asked, he said: “This is a decision to be taken by the government and political parties. This is not a decision for me.”

While the post of the Deputy Speaker was not filled in the 17th Lok Sabha, BJP sources say a member from one of the NDA parties may be appointed to the post this time. When asked if a Deputy Speaker would be appointed, Birla, again, said it was a decision to be taken by the government and the political parties.

The post of Deputy Speaker, which is a Constituti­onal post, remained vacant in the 17th Lok Sabha. In the 16th Lok Sabha, the post was held by AIADMK MP M. Thambidura­i. During the two terms of the UPA government at the Center, the post of Deputy Speaker was held by Akali Dal MP Charanjit Singh Atwal (14th Lok Sabha) and BJP MP Kariya Munda (15th Lok Sabha) respective­ly.