As the NDA nears the selection of a Lok Sabha speaker, Union Minister Rajnath Singh is working to seek consensus from opposition parties. Sources say he has spoken to Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK's M Stalin, and SP's Akhilesh Yadav for their views. While there is a possibility for a deputy speaker nomination, it will depend on the opposition's stance. Kharge has stated that the deputy speaker should be from the opposition, and sources suggest that the INDIA bloc also supports this notion while prioritizing the continuation of healthy traditions.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh Seeks Consensus for Lok Sabha Speaker Selection
Background
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is nearing the selection of a Lok Sabha speaker. The post of the Lok Sabha speaker is a prestigious one, responsible for presiding over the proceedings of the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
Current Developments
Union Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh has taken the initiative to reach out to opposition parties to seek consensus on the selection of the Lok Sabha speaker. Singh has reportedly spoken to Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, M Stalin of the DMK, and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party.
Sources suggest that the opposition parties are amenable to the idea of a consensus candidate. The Congress has stated its preference for a deputy speaker from the opposition, while the INDIA bloc (comprising the AIADMK, BJD, and YSRCP) also supports this notion.
Deputy Speaker Nomination
The possibility of a deputy speaker nomination depends on the final consensus reached between the government and the opposition. If a consensus is reached, the deputy speaker will likely be from the opposition.
Healthy Traditions
Sources indicate that all parties involved in the selection process wish to uphold healthy parliamentary traditions. This includes the tradition of the speaker and deputy speaker being from different political parties.
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