The Lok Sabha will soon choose a new Speaker. Given the fact that there is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government in power, with the ruling party just shy of a majority on its own, the choice of the Speaker has drawn considerable attention. The office has been the focus of attention especially when ruling parties/alliances have slimmer majorities and splits in parties become the order of the day. The Speaker has a vital role when it comes to interpreting anti-defection provisions on the one hand and presiding over what can often be an acrimonious house on the other.

This time around, there was initial talk of members of the non-BJP, NDA (National Democratic Alliance) coalition partners seeking the Speaker's post. This rumour gradually receded with the principal non-BJP parties in the coalition conceding that it should be left to the BJP to have a candidate of its choice. There are reports of a formal process of consultation being initiated by the ruling party in this regard.
It is important to record that whenever a party has secured a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker has always been from the ruling party.........

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