Not apparently happy with one just one portfolio and that too relatively an insignificant one, the Shiv Sena — one of the old constituents of the BJP-led NDA — has upped the ante by demanding the Deputy Speaker’s post in Lok Sabha.

Though he has not commented publicly about his party not getting its due in the Union Cabinet — despite having the largest number of 18 MPs after the BJP’s 303 in new Lok Sabha, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray is said to be “unhappy” with the “raw deal” meted out to his party in the allocation of ministerial berths.

When the Narendra Modi-led the Government was sworn into the office for its second term, Shiv Sena’s MP Arvind Sawant was administered oath as a Cabinet Minister and he was allotted the heavy industries and public enterprises portfolio which is not at all a significant portfolio.

While seeking play down the speculation about his party not getting its due in the Union Cabinet, Uddhav on Thursday confirmed that his party had staked a claim for the Deputy Speaker’s post in Lok Sabha. 

Talking to mediapersons after offering prayers at the Mahalaxmi temple at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, Uddhav said, “We have aligned with the BJP on the Hindutva plank and not for power. We would like to have the post of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha. We are demanding the post as our right”.

Queried if he was unhappy that his party had got only one ministerial berth in Union Cabinet in view of the speculation that the Sena wanted at least three ministerial berths, Uddhav said, “We are not upset with the BJP. Everything is going on smoothly between us and the BJP. When we were upset with the BJP, we had made it known to the people”.

Sena leadership is more than confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will agree to its demand — in light of the fact that the BJP — in its previous regime — had earlier deviated the tradition of giving the Deputy Speaker’s post to the Opposition. The BJP had given the post to the leader of its constituent AIADMK Munisamy Thambidurai. “We have a strong reason to believe that we will get the Deputy Speaker’s post,” a senior Sena leader said.    

Reiterating the stand taken by his stand taken by the Shiv Sena president over the party’s claim for deputy speaker’s post, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told a regional television channel: “This (deputy speaker post) is not  our demand, it is our natural claim and it is a right claim...the word natural is important... this post must be given to us...Why should we demand it since it is our right?”.

The Shiv Sena’s claim for deputy speaker’s post comes amid speculation that Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) could be given the position of the Deputy Speaker.

The Sena’s claim for deputy speaker’s post should be seen in the context of the fact  senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi was Speaker of Lok Sabha 2002-2004, when the AB Vajpayee Government was in power at the Centre.

In a related development, the Shiv Sena has begun preparations for the visit of Uddhav and Sena’s newly elected MPs to Ayodhya, in the run-up to the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha. “Shiv Sena chief is visiting Ayodhya. Will communicate the date.... commitment is a commitment,” Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut tweeted.

It may be recalled that in November last year,  Uddhav,  his family and senior party leaders visited Ayodhya to mount pressure on the ruling BJP to expedite construction of Ram Mandir