Twin claimants for Deputy Speaker

With the 14th Lok Sabha to be convened early next week, the race has hotted up for the post of deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

While the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has decided to offer the post of Lok Sabha Speaker to their non-participating ally, the CPI(M)'s Somnath Chatterjee, the BJP, the main Opposition party, says it is yet to receive an intimation on the choice of Speaker. Miffed, the party may demand the post of deputy Speaker.

In the previous Lok Sabha, Power Minister P M Sayeed of the Congress had been offered the post.

According to BJP spokesperson V K Malhotra, the party has not been informed of the choice of Speaker.

"We have no reaction to offer to Somnath Chatterjee's candidature as we have not been informed of the choice," he said. According to sources in the party, moves are already being made to demand the deputy Speaker's post.

Though Malhotra himself is being considered as a candidate for the post, many in the party feel his oratorical skills will be best used in combating the treasury benches in the Lok Sabha.

Another probable BJP is candidate for the post is MP Laxmi Prasad Pandey. "When the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power, the BJP's good speakers were also ministers thus, despite being Rajya Sabha members, they could participate in debates. With many of our stalwarts not having made it to the Lok Sabha, we cannot spare a person like Malhotra," said a senior BJP leader.

Not just that, according to sources in the BJP, their long time ally, the Shiv Sena, is also gunning for the post and has sent enough feelers to the BJP. "They have been in touch with us and are interested in the post," the source said.

The only spoke in the wheel is the fact that Congress ally MDMK is also interested in the post. Unlike the DMK, the MDMK has not joined the government and its leader Vaiko is interested in cornering one post for the party.

"If Chatterjee is being considered for being a non-participating ally, why not the MDMK," said a party source.