BJP's largest ally Shiv Sena lays claim to Dy Speaker's post

Mumbai: There appears to be clamour within the Shiv Sena — the second largest constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government — for the post of deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha.

Sena president Uddhav Thackeray told reporters in Kolhapur that the deputy speaker’s post in the Lok Sabha should be allotted to the Sena. He said that they were of the opinion that it was their right to demand the post.

“We have forged an alliance with the BJP for Hindutva and not for any post. But they are our near ones and we can express our demand to near ones only,” said Mr Thackeray.

Despite having demanded two or three ministers' posts in the Union cabinet, the Sena has been given only one minister’s post.

Arvind Sawant, party MP from the Mumbai south seat, is the lone Sena minister in the Modi government, handling the heavy industries and public enterprises portfolio.

When asked whether the Sena is disappointed with the BJP for allotting only one minister’s post, Mr Thackeray said, “We are not disappointed. Everything is going on smoothly. When we were disillusioned, we expressed it openly.”

According to sources, the post of deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha is always given to Opposition parties. However, the Narendra Modi government changed the practice last time.

During the first Modi government, the deputy speaker’s post was allotted to AIADMK’s M. Thambidurai.

The Opposition then alleged that AIADMK had been favoured as its stand towards the Modi government was soft. Despite the acrimony with BJP, Sena decided to join hands with it for the Lok Sabha polls.

The move paid off as it won 18 out of the 23 seats it had contested in the state.  The Sena’s strength has made it the second largest constituent of the BJP-led NDA government.