As the ruling BJP mustered support from its allies and Biju Janata Dal and YSR Congress Party in favour of Om Birla for the Lok Sabha Speaker, the government floor managers on Tuesday expressed confidence that the principal opposition Congress too will agree for consensus to elect the new presiding officer.
“…..I think they (Congress) would not oppose Birla’s candidature,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters here. BJP sources said the ruling side have sent in feelers to the Congress leadership through senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and K Suresh.
The election to the coveted office is scheduled on Wednesday.
Sources said N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party and DMK of Tamil Nadu have not given any confirmation to support the candidature of NDA candidate.
The BJP leadership sprang a surprise on Tuesday and decided to field two time MP from Kota in Rajasthan Om Birla as the new Lok Sabha Speaker.
Birla, 57, was first elected to the House of People only in 2014, but has served as a member of various parliamentary panels including the Committee on Estimates and the Committee on Petitions in the 16th Lok Sabha.
He has also served as a legislator in Rajasthan assembly for three terms between 2003 and 2014.
