Today in Politics: NDA’s Birla vs INDIA bloc’s Suresh in rare battle for Speaker post; CBI set to seek Kejriwal custody

While the NDA has renominated three-term BJP MP from Kota, Om Birla, for the post, INDIA has pitted eight-time Congress MP Kodilkunnil Suresh against him. Birla was also the Speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha,

With the numbers on the NDA’s side, Birla is expected to sail through smoothly. “However, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having spoken of ‘consensus’ just the day before, sources said the BJP hopes to avoid a contest. If not, it expects to ‘expose’ the Opposition’s numbers, including the ‘cracks within its ranks’,” report Liz Mathew and Manoj C G.

Only thrice has voting taken place for the Speaker’s post – 1952, 1967 and 1976. Twice, in 1991 and 1998, the Opposition’s resolution in favour of its candidates was negated by a voice vote.

In context: The Opposition’s last-minute decision to go for a contest came after senior BJP leaders did not agree to its pre-condition that the INDIA bloc must be offered the post of Deputy Speaker in lieu of supporting Birla.

However, the INDIA bloc on Tuesday found itself fighting a crisis when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) did not sign on Suresh’s nomination papers, with its leaders claiming that the party had not been “consulted” before the Congress MP’s name was decided and said it “could have given names”.

The Congress is trying to bring the TMC around, as well as ensure it has the backing of other INDIA parties as well as three Independents. Altogether, it puts its strength at 231, including the TMC.

The NDA, which has 293 MPs in an effective House of 542, is also in talks with leaders of like-minded parties such as the four-member YSRCP and the Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Kaur, sources said.

If a division of votes takes place in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, then paper slips will be used as the electronic system is not operational yet in the new Lok Sabha where members are still in the process of being allocated their seats.

CBI questions Kejriwal ahead of SC hearing

The Supreme Court will on Wednesday hear Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against the Delhi High Court order putting a stay on his bail granted by the trial court in the Delhi excise policy case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned Kejriwal in Tihar Jail on Tuesday and recorded his statements in the excise policy case.

The CBI also got permission for Kejriwal’s production before the trial court concerned on Wednesday, when it is likely to seek his custody. AAP sources said he has not been arrested yet.

Maharashtra MLC polls

As many as 4.29 lakh voters on Wednesday will decide the fate of 55 candidates in the polls to four constituencies in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

The results for the biennial elections to the Mumbai Graduates, Mumbai Teachers, Nashik Teachers and Konkan Graduates constituencies in the Upper House will be declared on July 1.

The polls became necessary as the terms of sitting members are expiring in July.

In the Mumbai Graduates constituency, there are eight candidates in the fray. The main contest is between former state minister Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Kiran Shelar of the BJP.

The Konkan Graduates constituency will see a direct fight between MLC Niranjan Davkhare of the BJP and Congress candidate Ramesh Keer. In the Mumbai Teachers constituency, there are 13 candidates, including Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee J M Abhayankar and NCP’s Shivaji Nalawade.

The Nashik Teachers constituency has 21 candidates, including Sandeep Gulve of the Shiv Sena (UBT), independent nominee Vivek Kolhe and Shiv Sena nominee Kishore Darade.

Out of 78 seats in the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena (undivided) has 11 members, NCP (undivided) 9, Congress 8, and BJP 22. The JD (U), Peasants and Workers Party, and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha have one member each, while four are Independents.

Cong meeting on Haryana polls

The Congress top brass will hold consultations with party leaders from Haryana on Wednesday to strengthen the organisation and work out its strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, scheduled for October.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi held similar strategy meetings on June 24 and 25 with leaders of Jharkhand and Maharashtra respectively.

On June 27, the Congress leadership will hold a meeting with party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, where the elections are yet to be declared.

– With PTI inputs