Consensus to No-Consensus: What Transpired Between Rajnath Singh and INDI Leaders

New Delhi: Initial reports suggested that the Congress-led INDI alliance will be backing ruling-NDA's candidate for the post of Lok Sabha speaker as Union Minister Rajnath Singh reached out to the opposition leaders ahead of the speaker's election. However, as of now, both NDA and INDI alliance have fielded candidates for position of Speaker in the 18th Lok Sabha.

While the NDA looks poised to get Kota MP Om Birla re-elected as the Lok Sabha speaker, the INDI alliance has fielded eight-term MP K Suresh.

NDA's Reach-Out to INDI

The BJP wished to continue the tradition of unanimously electing Lok Sabha speaker and with an aim to build consensus, Union Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reached to the opposition leaders including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Singh spoke to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Stalin among other opposition leaders in efforts to build a consensus, reported PTI.

Rajnath Singh pressed that the tradition of being elected unopposed should be maintained. Union ministers Amit Shah and J P Nadda besides Singh tried to persuade opposition leaders to endorse the NDA nominee.

INDI Demanded Deputy Speaker's Post

The INDI alliance parties including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party agreed to back NDA candidate Om Birla in the speaker's election in exchange for the deputy speaker's post. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also raised the demand for deputy speaker's post. “The entire Opposition said that we would support the Speaker but the convention is that the Deputy Speaker post should be given to the opposition,” said Rahul Gandhi while speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

"Everything will be out soon... The demand of the Opposition was that the Deputy Speaker (of the Lok Sabha) should be of the Opposition... Our party's opinion is also the same..." said Samajawadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav earlier today.

Demand Not Accepted: Congress 

The Congress party claimed that it agreed to support NDA's candidate, however, it was the BJP will refused to give the deputy speaker's position to INDI alliance. Congress leader K C Venugopal and DMK's T R Baalu went to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his office on Tuesday, but walked out later refusing to endorse NDA candidate Birla without being offered the Deputy Speaker's position. Venugopal said the BJP refused to give a commitment on offering the Deputy Speaker's post to the opposition.

"Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and he asked him to extend support to the Speaker. Rajnath Singh said that he would call back Mallikarjun Kharge but he has not done that yet...PM Modi is asking for cooperation from Opposition but our leader is getting insulted..." said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

'Will Discuss When...': NDA Parties

While the NDA parties said that Singh was ready to discuss demands of the Opposition when the elections for the position of Deputy Speaker takes place. Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Lalan Singh accused the Congress of putting up conditions, adding the ruling alliance was willing to discuss their demand when the election for Deputy Speaker's takes place.