Who Will Be Lok Sabha Speaker? NDA Allies JD(U), TDP Disagree On Key Issue

The differing opinions within NDA on the allocation of the Lok Sabha Speaker's post have highlighted internal dynamics. While JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar has expressed support for the BJP's decision on the Speaker candidate, the TDP led by N Chandrababu Naidu insists on a consensus candidate among NDA partners.

KC Tyagi, a leader from JD(U), stated that both JD(U) and TDP would back the candidate nominated by BJP.

Photo Credit: PTI

"JDU and TDP are strongly in NDA. We will support the person nominated (for Speaker) by the BJP," Tyagi told ANI.

On the other hand, TDP national spokesperson Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy stated the need for a jointly decided candidate among NDA partners.

"The NDA partners will sit together and decide who our candidate for the Speaker is going to be. Once a consensus is reached, we will field that candidate and all partners, including the TDP, will support the candidate," says Kommareddy.

With 240 Lok Sabha seats, BJP is 32 seats short of a majority, making the support from JD(U) (16 seats) and TDP (12 seats) crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government.

INDIA bloc's take

The INDIA bloc, which includes the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), proposed that the Speaker's post should be allocated to either JD(U) or TDP.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot warned that if BJP secures the Speaker's post, it might engage in horse-trading with JD(U) and TDP MPs.

How does the current Cabinet look like?

Although NDA partners received several Cabinet berths in Modi 3.0, yet BJP took home the plum ministries, leading to criticism from INDIA bloc leaders who claimed BJP offered "jhunjhuna" to its allies.

The election for the Lok Sabha Speaker's post is scheduled for June 26.