Dy Speaker: AIADMK opposes BJP nominee
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, Dec 9 — Chances of the BJP to install a Deputy Speaker of its choice in the 12th Lok Sabha today suffered a severe setback with the AIADMK, a prominent ally, wanting that the post go to the Opposition.

Close on the heels of open support by the Trinamool Congress to the joint opposition nominee, Mr P.M. Sayeed, the AIADMK Secretary, Ms J Jayalalitha, said in Chennai today that the Deputy Speaker's post should go to the Opposition.

"A healthy convention has evolved that the ruling group nominates the Lok Sabha Speaker while the Deputy Speaker's post goes to the Opposition,’’ Ms Jayalalitha said and appealed to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to evolve a consensus on the issue.

It is understood that the statement came after the Trinamool Congress leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, spoke to the AIADMK leader to seek help in evolving a consensus.

The AIADMK supremo was critical of the BJP staking a claim to the post, alleging that the party had unilaterally decided to install a Telugu Desam MP as Speaker.

The statement nearly evaporated the BJP’s chances of getting a person of its choice elected as Deputy Speaker. In fact, during the previous session, the stage was set for an imminent showdown between the BJP and its allies and the Opposition.

The BJP had named Dhanbad MP, Ms Rita Verma, as its candidate for the post when the elections were scheduled. However, it was deferred till the current session after an appeal by Ms Banerjee to evolve a consensus on the issue. Ms Verma today maintained she was in the race till her party decided otherwise.

The BJP is under pressure both from the Speaker Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, to make up its mind so that he could issue notification for the election of Deputy Speaker.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been raising the issue of election to the post with the Speaker regularly as they argue that the high post should not remain unoccupied for such a long period.

The Speaker, on his part, too is keen to have a deputy to share his workload. Apart from it, the Deputy Speaker is Chairman of several House committees, including those on library, private members Bills and resolutions and computers.

Apparently, the computers meant for the use of the members of the 12th Lok Sabha could not be allotted to them as the meeting could not be convened, some MPs said.

Even at yesterday’s meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, the issue of scheduling the elections cropped up with opposition members demanding that the Speaker finalise the dates. Sources close to the Speaker said the schedule was likely to be announced by Monday.

Officially, the BJP is still putting up a brave front, maintaining that a final view will be taken after the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, completes a round of meetings with the BJP's allies on the issue.

Mr Fernandes, who is BJP’s new Man Friday, has been asked by the BJP to talk with the allies to arrive at a consensus on the issue of Deputy Speaker’s election.

BJP sources said a meeting was likely to take place tomorrow. However, in view of the strong opposition from within the alliance partners the chances of the BJP pressing for their candidate is virtually ruled out, the sources said.

The government can ill-afford to test its strength on the issue, after two of its important allies have declared their intentions.