NEW DELHI: The United Front Government is believed to have decided to adhere to the convention and offer the deputy speakership of the Lok Sabha to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the main Opposition Party, and Lok Sabha Member from Ambala Suraj Bhan is likely to be the BJP’s choice for the coveted post. Sources in the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said the Government had informally told the BJP to select a leader of its choice for the post of Deputy Speaker. Considering that the Left parties and Janata Dal had taken exception to the Congress decision to offer the deputy speakership to the BJP in the tenth Lok Sabha, the stance of the ruling Front has baffled the political circles. Besides, there was talk in the Front, when the speakership was offered to the Congress, that one of its constituents would be offered the office of the Deputy Speaker. While the official decision is expected to be taken after an all-party meeting in the Speaker’s chamber on Tuesday, BJP has already suggested the name of Mr. Suraj Bhan. The BJP, in an apparent bid to project us elf as a prescheduled Caste party, favors the candidature of Mr. Suraj Bhan, His name will be formally announced after the meeting of Parliamentary Party leaders with the Speaker. For the speakership, the BJP had not fielded its candidate and the ruling United Front had offered the office to the Congress with whose support the H.D. Deve Gowda Government was formed. Meanwhile, the Government has decided to introduce the Lok Pal Bill, a Bill on providing reservation to Women in Parliament and State Assemblies and another Bill on electoral reforms during the Budget session beginning from Wednesday. At the moment the Lok Pal Bill is being processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs while the other two Bills are with the Ministry of Law.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1996
