Opposition scripts history as it is the first time that the post has been contested

Opposition scripts history as it is the first time that the post has been contested

Opposition scripts history as it is the first time that the post has been contested

The attempts by the government to arrive at a consensus on the Lok Sabha Speaker's post appeared to have failed as Congress MP Kodikunnil. Suresh filed the nomination for the post.

With this, the opposition has scripted history as it is the first time that the post of the speaker has been contested.

The move comes amid speculations that Kota MP Om Birla was to be reelected as Speaker again. 

Meanwhile, Birla also filed his nomination for the post.

Why did Congress choose to contest? 

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal had said the opposition would contest the speaker's election and accused the government of being non-committal on giving the deputy speaker's post to the opposition.

Failed consensus

Amid reports that Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh was attempting to build a consensus over the posts of both Speaker and deputy speaker, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier said the opposition will support the government on the Lok Sabha Speaker's choice if they give the deputy speaker's post to the opposition bloc.

"Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge, and he asked him to extend support to the Speaker. The entire Opposition said we would support the Speaker, but the convention is that the deputy speaker post should be given to the opposition. Rajnath Singh said that he would call back Kharge, but he has not done that yet," Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying.

Besides Kharge, Singh had also to DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin among other opposition leaders in an effort to build a consensus.

Birla had earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid indications that he will again be the NDA's candidate for the post.

A few days ago, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju too had pitched for a consensus for the post saying, "It is always better if there is a consensus."