Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday made a big claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will break its alliance partners if an NDA candidate would not get the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. He also said that the INDIA bloc will support the TDP candidate for Lok Sabha Speaker position in case the NDA does not support Chandrababu Naidu's party.
"This fight of Lok Sabha Speaker is important. This time, the situation is not similar to 2014 and 2019. The government is not stable... We have heard that Chandrababu Naidu has asked for the Lok Sabha Speaker post...," said the Rajya Sabha MP speaking to reporters in Mumbai.
"If a candidate of NDA will not get the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, then PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will break TDP, JDU and LJP (Ram Vilas)... If Chandrababu Naidu doesn't get this position then we will ensure that his candidate gets the support from the INDIA alliance...," he added.
Reacting to the claim, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi said that NDA or BJP have the first right over the post of Speaker. He also rubbished the claim of Modi or Shah breaking the parties.
"The position of a Lok Sabha Speaker is the most dignified post of the House... The ruling party has the first right on that seat. The demands and statements of the INDI alliance are objectionable. BJP or NDA have first right on that post," said the JD(U) leader.
"We believe that BJP is the big party of the NDA... I have been in NDA for the last 35 years... BJP never tried to break any party... TDP and JDU played a crucial role. We will never try to weaken the NDA...," he added.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will commence from June 24 and the election of the Speaker will take place two days later, on June 26.