A standoff has ensued between the government and the Opposition following the ruling NDA’s decision to nominate BJP MP Om Birla for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker without confirming the Deputy Speaker’s post. In response, the Opposition fielded Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh from Kerala for the Speaker’s role, setting the stage for an unusual contest.

Government sources indicated readiness to engage with the Opposition on the Deputy Speaker issue but emphasized that the Congress’s demand to secure their support for NDA’s Speaker candidate contingent upon receiving the Deputy Speaker position was deemed unacceptable. Senior government ministers asserted that such conditions cannot dictate the process.

Om Birla, who served as Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, submitted his nomination papers after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by senior ministers and NDA leaders. Shortly after, multiple sets of nominations were filed for Suresh.

Earlier attempts by the government to reach a consensus with the Opposition on the Speaker’s position faced resistance, particularly since the Opposition’s strength has increased. They insisted that the government commit to allocating the Deputy Speaker position to them.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged with Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, alongside other Opposition leaders, in an effort to build consensus. During discussions, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal and veteran DMK leader T R Baalu met with Rajnath Singh, accompanied by senior ministers Amit Shah, J P Nadda, Piyush Goyal, and Rajesh Ranjan alias Lallan Singh.

Government sources conveyed that Rajnath Singh intended to speak with Kharge, but initial attempts were delayed. They highlighted that Venugopal and Baalu persisted in setting conditions for their support, particularly insisting on resolving the Deputy Speaker issue upfront, which was criticized as attempting to exert pressure in a democratic process.

Cabinet member and JD(U) MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Lallan Singh remarked, “Venugopal stated that you must accept the Deputy Speaker’s position immediately. The Defence Minister assured him that discussions would occur during the Deputy Speaker’s election. However, Venugopal remained firm on his condition, indicating a preference for dictating terms rather than engaging in democratic dialogue.”