Just hours before the nomination process for the important position opens, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is anticipated to declare its nominee for the position of Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. High-ranking sources claim that the NDA proposed Om Birla, the Speaker of the last Lok Sabha, as a consensus choice for the Speakership, but the opposition parties rejected their suggestion. According to sources, Birla’s selection as the top option fits with the administration led by Narendra Modi’s third-term theme of continuity.
According to BJP insiders, three additional candidates are being examined for the consensus bid, even though the NDA has not yet released a formal statement on it. “If everything goes as per plan and the Opposition doesn’t oppose the continuation of Om Birla, the possibility of Birla’s continuation is high. In case of disagreement, the BJP’s East Champaran (Bihar) MP Radha Mohan Singh or the MP from Pali constituency (Rajasthan) P P Chaudhary might be announced as the NDA’s candidate for LS Speaker,” said a senior BJP source.
Another name making the rounds is Daggubati Purandeswari, the chief of the Andhra BJP.
In addition to being a senior attorney, Chaudhary chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Jan Vishwas Bill 2022. Prior to this, in 2019 and 2017, he held the position of MoS in the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Electronics and IT, respectively. In 2015 and 2016, he was also bestowed with two Sansad Ratna awards.
Both Choudhary and Singh have a good rapport with the opposition parties and have experience in parliamentary matters. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu’s sister-in-law is Purandeswari. June 26 is the election day for the Lok Sabha Speaker.
