Battle in Kerala
With all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala at stake in the second phase of polling tomorrow, the electoral drama unfolds with its usual intensity, underscoring the unique political landscape of the state.
Two-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Om Birla is to be NDA’s nominee for Lok Sabha speaker’s post, sources said Tuesday.
Once nominated, Birla, who won from Kota-Bundi parliamentary seat in Rajasthan, will easily become the speaker as the National Democratic Alliance has a clear majority in the lower house.
The election for the post is scheduled for Wednesday.
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The Opposition has not yet announced any candidate for the post while Tuesday is the last day to file nomination.
Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) passed a resolution to support Om Birla for his candidature for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.
Besides BJD, 10 parties including National People’s Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, YSRCP, JDU, AIADMK and Apna Dal have decided to support Om Birla’s candidature for the post.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had proposed Birla’s name for the post.
He further said the Congress had not signed the proposal yet but expressed confidence that the party would not oppose it.
A three-time MLA, Om Birla, who describes himself as an agriculturalist and a social worker, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kota in Rajasthan. This was his second victory in Lok Sabha elections after 2014.
A Masters in Commerce, Birla has been active in politics since his student days. He was first elected to the Rajasthan Assembly in 2003 and twice more before he was catapulted to the Lok Sabha.
The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha began on Monday with Pro tem Speaker Virendra Singh administering the oath to members. The oath-taking is being continued on Tuesday.
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