The BJP's ruling coalition and the Congress' INDIA opposition bloc will go head-to-head Wednesday in a battle for the Lok Sabha Speaker's post - arguably one of the most important in a parliamentary democracy and to be held for the first time in decades - after the two failed to agree a division of seats.
The Speaker and his/her deputy - the post fuelling disagreements between the two political giants - are usually elected by consensus, lack of which in this instance underlines the fractious BJP-Congress ties.