Om Birla Set To Be Lok Sabha Speaker
The election is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
“BJD, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, National People’s Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, YSRCP, JDU, AIADMK and Apna Dal have given the notice to support Birla’s candidature for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. I have spoken to Congress leaders K Suresh and Gulab Nabi Azad. They have not signed till now but I think they would not oppose Birla’s candidature,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters in New Delhi.
YSRCP and BJD are not allies of the NDA government at the Centre but have extended their support to Birla’s candidature.
Congress and N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party have not given any confirmation to support the candidature of NDA candidate.
Birla, 57, was elected to Lok Sabha after winning elections from Kota parliamentary seat.
He defeated Congress’ Ramnarain Meena by over 2.5 lakh votes from Kota parliamentary seat in the recently concluded general election.
If elected, he will succeed eight-term MP Sumitra Mahajan as Lok Sabha speaker. Birla has been MLA from Rajasthan thrice and MP twice.
The development comes a day after the Protem Speaker Virendra Kumar was sworn in by the President and over 300 MPs took an oath during the inaugural session of the 17th Lok Sabha.
Previously, Manohar Joshi of the Shiv Sena was appointed Speaker in his first term in the Lok Sabha in the year 2002. Joshi succeeded Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi of the TDP, who was was appointed Speaker in his second term as MP and who died in a helicopter crash.
Sumitra Mahajan was the last Speaker of Lok Sabha.
She had earlier announced her decision to not contest the general elections and said that BJP is free to name a candidate from Indore parliamentary constituency.
In a press statement, Mahajan, an eight-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Indore, said that the reason behind the decision was the delay in announcing the BJP candidate from the Indore seat.
“BJP has not declared its candidate from Indore. Why this state of indecision? Possibly the party has some hesitation in taking a decision. Even though I had a discussion with the leadership long back and left the decision to the party, it seems they are still in a dilemma. Therefore, I announce that I will not contest the Lok Sabha polls and the party is free to decide, without any hesitation,” she said.
(ANI)
