New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kota MP Om Birla, after being nominated by NDA, is likely to be the next Speaker of the Lok Sabha. However, an official announcement on the decision is not made yet.
Birla could be seen meeting the party's working president JP Nadda on Tuesday morning which indicates that the signs are heading in the right way.
Om Birla, on being approached regarding the news, states, "I have no information, I had just went to meet the Working President as a karyakarta (worker of the party)."
Birla, perhaps, is not leaking the news of him being the Speaker as this is against the party policies and code of conduct. Things will be clear and the air of doubt will fade only when an official statement will be made on this regard.
The last Speaker of the Lok Sabha was Sumitra Mahajan but this time, she chose not to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Amita Birla, the Rajasthan MP's wife, however, made an indirect statement in confirmation of the news. She says, "It is a very proud and a happy moment for us. We are very thankful to the cabinet for choosing him."
This has also been reported that once Birla gets nominated by the ruling NDA, he will easily become the Speaker. As the National Democratic Alliance has a clear majority in the Lower House, there is no point for Birla not to obtain the Speaker’s position.
The election of the Lok Sabha speaker will take place on Day 2 of Budget Session on Tuesday. As per sources, the Opposition will also be supporting Om Birla to be elected as the next speaker of Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has also passed a resolution to support Om Birla for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. Other parties to support Birla for the Speaker's position include National People's Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, YSR Congress Party, JD(U), AIADMK, Apna Dal and BJD.