Lok Sabha: Its NDA's Om Birla Vs INDIA's K Suresh In Historic Election For Speaker Post

Ahead of the nomination for Lok Sabha speaker, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi that the opposition will support the govt's choice only if opposition gets the deputy speaker's post.

Lok Sabha Speaker Election: Kota MP Om Birla, who previously served as Lok Sabha Speaker of the previous House, submitted his nomination as an NDA candidate on Tuesday. Birla's name was unanimously agreed upon by all NDA parties, and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh also sought the opposition's support. The INDIA bloc fielded Congress leader K Suresh as its candidate for the Speaker's position against Om Birla, accusing the ruling NDA of failing to follow convention in handing over the Dy speaker position to the opposition.

Congress leader K C Venugopal and DMK's T R Baalu walked out of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's office, refusing to endorse NDA candidate Birla unless they were offered the position of Deputy Speaker. Venugopal stated that the BJP refused to commit to offering the Deputy Speaker position to the opposition.

Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Lalan Singh accused the Congress of imposing conditions, adding that the ruling alliance was willing to discuss their demand when the election for Deputy Speaker took place.

According to sources, over ten sets of nominations were filed in support of Birla's candidature, including those from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Shah, Singh, and Nadda, as well as BJP allies such as the TDP, JD(U), JD(S), and LJP(R).

Three nominations were submitted in support of Suresh, a Dalit leader and eight-term MP.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had clarified on Tuesday that the INDIA bloc will only support the government's nomination if the opposition is given the deputy speaker's position. He also said that Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh had yet to respond to the opposition's request for the post of deputy speaker. Gandhi also accused the BJP of insulting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. 

While speaking to reporters outside the Parliament house, Gandhi said, "Today it is written in the newspaper that PM Modi has said that the Opposition should cooperate with the Govt constructively. Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and he asked him to extend support to the Speaker. The entire Opposition said that we would support the Speaker but the convention is that the Deputy Speaker post should be given to the opposition."

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says "Today it is written in the newspaper that PM Modi has said that the Opposition should cooperate with the Govt constructively. Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and he asked him to extend support to the Speaker. The entire… pic.twitter.com/yR5CzlagEx

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2024

"Rajnath Singh said that he would call back Mallikarjun Kharge but he has not done that yet...PM Modi is asking for cooperation from Opposition but our leader is getting insulted...," he said.

Here are the live updates on Lok Sabha speaker's election: 

01:00 pm: "There is a convention in Lok Sabha... the Speaker will be of the ruling party and the deputy Speaker will be of the opposition. They denied us in the last two terms of the Lok Sabha, saying that you are not the recognised opposition. Now, we are recognised opposition. Deputy Speaker post is our right, but they are not ready to give us. We were waiting for their reply, but they didn't and that's why we filed (our nomination for the post of Speaker)," says Congress leader K Suresh , who is opposition's candidate for Lok Sabha Speaker's position against Om Birla.

12:30 pm: Congress leader K C Venugopal and DMK's T R Baalu walked out of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's office, refusing to endorse NDA candidate Birla unless they were offered the position of Deputy Speaker.

Venugopal stated that the BJP refused to commit to offering the Deputy Speaker position to the opposition.

12:00 pm: Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Lalan Singh accused the Congress of imposing conditions, saying the ruling alliance was willing to discuss their demand when the election for Deputy Speaker was held.