Meira Kumar emerging as consensus LS Speaker

New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Meira Kumar was Monday emerging
as a consensus candidate of both India's ruling and opposition
parties for Lok Sabha Speakership and they will file
nominations in favour of the senior Congress leader Tuesday.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is also UPA
chairperson, is expected to propose Kumar's name in the
nomination paper which is likely to be seconded by Leader of
the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee when the process of electing
the Speaker will be set in motion Tuesday.

Elections for the post of Speaker, if required, will
be held on Wednesday.

Parliament sources said Kumar's candidature is likely
to get an overwhelming backing of the UPA as also those from
the NDA in the election as she would be the first woman
and Dalit leader to occupy the post.

Though the government is yet to make a formal
announcement, 64-year-old Kumar, who resigned as Union
Minister for Water Resources Sunday, Monday said she has
been nominated for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker by the UPA.

"Yes I have resigned (from the post of the Union Water
Resources Minister). UPA has nominated me for the post of (Lok
Sabha) Speaker," the daughter of former deputy premier
Jagjivan Ram and a five-time MP told reporters here.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal had a
meeting with the Leader of Opposition L K Advani. When asked
whether his party would stake claim for Deputy Speakership,
Advani merely said a meeting of the BJP's Parliamentary Board
is scheduled for Tuesday which would take a decision.

However, BJP sources said the party will nominate a
candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker with the names of
Karia Munda and Sripad Naik doing the rounds. PTI SPG
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