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

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

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

NDA's Reach-Out to INDI

BJP wished to continue trition of unanimously electing Lok Sabha speaker and with an aim to build consensus, Union Minister and BJP leer Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reached to opposition leers including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Singh spoke to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and DMK leer and Tamil Nu Chief Minister M Stalin among or opposition leers in efforts to build a consensus, reported PTI.

Rajnath Singh pressed that trition of being elected unopposed should be maintained. Union ministers Amit Shah and J P Nda besides Singh tried to persue opposition leers to endorse NDA nominee.

INDI Demanded Deputy Speaker's Post

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

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

Demand Not Accepted: Congress 

Congress party claimed that it agreed to support NDA's candidate, however, it was BJP will refused to give deputy speaker's position to INDI alliance. Congress leer 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 Deputy Speaker's position. Venugopal said BJP refused to give a commitment on offering Deputy Speaker's post to opposition.

"Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and he asked him to extend support to 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 leer is getting insulted..." said Congress leer Rahul Gandhi.

'Will Discuss When...': NDA Parties

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