Congress, BJP keep AAP guessing on Delhi assembly speaker post

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has not declared its nominee for the speaker's post in the assembly and both Congress and BJP are holding their cards close to the chest. A vote for the nominee of AAP will be proof of the confidence that BJP and Congress have in the party.

AAP sources said a final decision will be taken only after the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday. "We are not going to communicate with Congress on any issue and, therefore, there is no question of consulting them on our choice for speaker. If they vote against our candidate, we will see what steps we can take,"said a senior party official.

While the BJP has said it will discuss the matter at the first meeting of its MLAs on Friday, Congress too has left it to the Congress Legislature Party or CLP which is expected to hold its meeting in a day or two.

According to the norms, after the CM and the cabinet are administered the oath on Saturday at Ramlila Ground, they should hold the first cabinet meeting where the day for a special session of Delhi assembly that will last for not more than two days will be called. The LG will administer oath to the seniormost MLA for pro-tem speaker and the latter will then administer oath to all the elected MLAs in the assembly.

After this, Kejriwal will propose his nominee for speaker and BJP, too, may propose a candidate. Though Congress is keeping everyone guessing, it is unlikely to field a candidate. If the vote is against the AAP choice, it will automatically turn into an expression of no-confidence for AAP and may result in the fall of the government. But with all eight Congress MLAs not in favour of a re-election, it is unlikely that the party will go down this road. . "We have so far given them outside support. It does not mean support for their nominee for speaker. The CLP will take a decision on this matter," said DPCC's new chief, Arvinder Singh.

BJP leaders maintained they have yet not taken any decision on whether the party will nominate its own speaker or vote for a candidate recommended by AAP. However, there is a possibility of BJP proposing a name for the job. BJP, being the single largest party with 32 members, will need just four more votes to get its candidate through. If the two independent MLAs extend their support and any one Congress MLA votes for the BJP candidate, he can manage it quite conveniently.

"The party is yet to decide on the issue. However, in the past, we have always proposed our candidate and, therefore, we are considering the options for this term too," said Vijay Goel, state president. Sources say there is a possibility that party may declare the name of its seniormost MLA, Jagdish Mukhi.