Opposition will get opportunity to nominate Deputy Speaker: M Venkaiah Naidu

VIJAYAWADA: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said that government will give opposition parties a "reasonable" opportunity to nominate one of their members for the post of deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha.

"Union government will give enough and reasonable opportunity to all opposition parties irrespective of their strength. The voice of opposition has to be heard," he said.

Venkaiah added that only the Speaker will decide which party will be selected to represent Deputy Speaker.

He was here to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the first chief minister of new Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu.

"The Speaker will nominate members to the Standing Committees and also the chairpersons of various committees. The Speaker will also nominate the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee," he added.

On the status of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Venkaiah said that none of the opposition parties has requisite numbers to qualify as recognised opposition.

"In the past as well, there was no recognised opposition parties in Lok Sabha on some occasions during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi governments," he said.

"Some parties are contemplating to form an alliance to get opposition status for the first time in the Indian parliamentary history but on this also the Speaker has to decide by going through the precedents and rules of the House," Venkaiah added.