Bhubaneshwar: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal BJD which fought a fierce poll battle with the BJP in the recent past, on Tuesday informed that it would support the candidature of National Democratic Alliance’s Om Birla for Lok Sabha Speaker’s post.
Informing in this regard, BJD’s Parliamentary party leader Pinaki Mishra in New Delhi said that his party would support the NDA’s proposal of selecting Om Birla as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha “since it has constructive cooperation with the Centre.”
After the BJD on Tuesday passed a resolution to support Birla’s candidature for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, nine other parties including YSR Congress, AIADMK, National People’s Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, JDU and APNA DAL also announced to support Birla’s name.
“The ruling BJP at the Centre has clear majority so there is no question of election but as far as selection of candidate is concerned, the BJP which has a clear majority in the Lower House of the Parliament has chosen Om Birla’s name for Lok Sabha Speaker post. They have sought our cooperation in supporting Birla’s nomination and since we have always had constructive cooperation with the Centre, we will support the saffron party’s proposal,” said BJD leader Pinaki Mishra.
Asked about speculations of BJD’s name doing rounds for the LS Deputy Speaker’s post, Mishra said, “Till now there have been no concrete discussions in this regard as any development can only happen after the Speaker election.”
Though the BJD and BJP had fought against each other as bitter enemies in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls, leaders of the parties appear to be inching closer post the electoral exercises. It all started Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating BJD president Naveen Patnaik for his fifth consecutive victory in Odisha Assembly polls. Naveen on his part also reciprocated by congratulating Mr Modi for the BJP’s “impressive” victory in Lok Sabha polls.
