The politics over Lok Sabha deputy Speaker has intensified with Congress’ staking claim for the post and former NDA ally Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) supporting the Opposition’s demand.
YSRCP, which has lent support to BJP-led NDA over crucial Bills and more recently in election of Lok Sabha Speaker, has come out in support of Congress’ claim over deputy Speakership. Speaking to ET, YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP V Vijay Sai Reddy said, “It has been five years since the post of deputy Speaker has not been filled. Ideally it should go to the Opposition. This is the sound practice and precedent so far.” When pointed out that YSRCP has been supporting BJP over Bills and more recently over Lok Sabha Speaker election, Reddy said, “We will extend our support to the Centre wherever it concerns the interest of our country and the state of Andhra Pradesh.”
Congress staked claim for the post of deputy Speaker in the all-party meeting on Sunday. The party had also raised this demand with BJP’s senior leadership when it reached out for support over Lok Sabha Speaker last month. Then, Congress had made its support conditional over the ruling party giving deputy Speaker post to the Opposition. Congress has maintained that this has been the practice that while Speaker is from the ruling party, the deputy is from the Opposition.
The ruling party, however, is in no mood to give in to the Opposition’s demand. BJP senior leaders point out that there are Opposition-ruled states where both the posts are with the ruling party. BJP is now seriously considering giving the post of deputy Speaker to one of the two allies – its southern ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) or Janata Dal (United).
One of the options on the table is to nominate former Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi’s son G Harish Madhur. When contacted TDP denied any such development. A highly-placed source told ET, “There is no such proposal. Had there been any such development we would have known.”
