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The race for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker has intensified as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gears up to file nominations today, with the election scheduled for June 26. This marks a departure from the tradition of consensus appointments, with speculations rife about potential candidates from both the ruling coalition and the opposition.

While BJP leaders have kept mum on their nominee, there are strong indications that Om Birla, the Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha, might re-enter the fray. Bhartruhari Mahtab, currently serving as the pro-tem speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha, is also considered a contender for the prestigious position.

The nomination process is set to unfold today, paving the way for the election on June 26. Tensions have surfaced over Mahtab's appointment as pro-tem speaker, leading to protests by INDIA bloc leaders within the Parliament premises. Congress heavyweights, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, participated in the demonstrations.

Traditionally, the position of Deputy Speaker, vacant in the previous term, is accorded to the opposition. In 2014, BJP extended the post to its ally AIADMK’s Thambi Dhurai. With the INDIA bloc currently short of numbers in the lower house, the upcoming election will reveal whether it asserts its influence over the Deputy Speaker’s appointment.

Speaking to ANI, Revolutionary Socialist Party’s MP NK Premachandran confirmed INDIA bloc's intention to contest both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker elections. "We will contest these positions unless there's consensus with the government on the nominations," he stated outside Parliament.

The inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced with the swearing-in of newly elected MPs, setting the stage for crucial parliamentary proceedings. Scheduled for June 26, the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker will be followed by President Murmu's address to a joint sitting of Parliament on June 27.

With 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the NDA holds a commanding majority, contrasting with the opposition INDIA bloc's 234 MPs. The upcoming election and subsequent appointments are poised to shape the legislative landscape significantly in the days ahead.