BJP-led NDA Likely to Keep Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker’s Post, Announcement Soon: Report

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to keep the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker's post.

New Delhi: The Deputy Speaker post, which remained vacant during the first two terms of Narendra Modi’s government, will be filled this time, according to a NDTV report. However, breaking from tradition, the incumbent is expected to be from the NDA rather than the Opposition. The reports added that the decision is likely to intensify the ongoing government versus Opposition acrimony. An announcement is expected soon, according to sources.

Earlier, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said he advised his allies in the INDIA bloc that the Lok Sabha Speaker should be elected unopposed, but the Opposition must get the deputy Speaker’s post which has been a parliamentary convention.

Traditionally, the Speaker’s post went to the ruling party and the deputy Speaker’s post to the Opposition, but this did not happen in the last ten years of the Narendra Modi government, the veteran leader told reporters here.

“In Parliament, non-BJP leaders sought my opinion and I advised them to tell the government that we agree to hold the Speaker’s election unopposed. “Simultaneously, the deputy Speaker’s post must go to the Opposition,” the former Union minister added.