Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the Opposition’s INDIA bloc is prepared to back the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) if it nominates a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha Speaker election.Â
However, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal (United)said that BJP, the biggest party in the ND Alliance BJP has the right to nominate the Speaker of the lower house of Parliament.
Sanjay Raut said that the TDP is interested in fielding a candidate for the Speaker’s election. “I have heard that the TDP wants to put forth its candidate. Should this occur, the INDIA bloc partners will deliberate and aim to gather the support of all alliance members for the TDP,” he remarked.
Raut further asserted that if the BJP secures the Speaker’s position, it may destabilize its alliances. “Our experience shows that the BJP tends to betray its supporters,” he added.
BJP has 240 MPs in the Lok Sabha and it needs support of both TDP and JDU for a simple majority.
The TDP has called for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to achieve consensus before deciding on a Speaker nominee. On the other hand, JD(U) said that it will support the BJP’s decision.
