New Delhi: The Opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive (INDI) alliance has offered support to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party in the upcoming election for Lok Sabha speaker. The first Parliament session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which will be a special session of the Parliament, will be held from June 24 to July 3 and the process for the Speaker’s election will begin on June 26.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday, June 16, said that all partners of the opposition INDI bloc will try to ensure support for the TDP if it fields a candidate for the Lok Sabha speaker's election. "I hear the TDP wants to field its candidate. If that happens, INDIA bloc partners will discuss the issue and will try to ensure that all the INDIA alliance partners extend support to the TDP," said the Uddhav Sena leader.

The opposition should get the deputy speaker's post as per rule, the Rajya Sabha member said. The INDI bloc could nominate a candidate for the Speaker's position in the upcoming Parliament session of Lok Sabha if they were not offered the position of Deputy Speaker, said reports. 

Speaker Post is BJP's Right: JDU 

While TDP is believed to be eyeing the speaker's post, another NDA ally - Janata Dal United - has asserted that the right to nominate speaker of Lok Sabha rests with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "The position of a Lok Sabha Speaker is the most dignified post of the House. The ruling party has the first right on that seat. The demands and statements of the INDI alliance are objectionable. BJP or NDA have first right on that post. We believe that BJP is the big party of the NDA..." said Janata Dal Secular leader KC Tyagi.

BJP Accommodates Allies in Modi 3.0 Cabinet 

This comes after the BJP ensured ample representation to the two kingmakers - TDP and the JDU - in Prime Minister Modi's cabinet. TDP has got two berths with Ram Mohan Naidu and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani being sworn-in as Civil Aviation minister and MoS Rural Development and Communications respectively. While the JDU has been allotted Union Panchayati Raj ministry with Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh being given the charge. JDU leader Ram Nath Thakur has been appointed as MoS Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

During a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance in the Central Hall of Parliament on June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected as leader of the NDA Parliamentary Party, the BJP Parliamentary Party and the leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha.