New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday named its Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla, 57, as the ruling NDA alliance’s nominee for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker. The two-time MP from the parliamentary seat in Rajasthan is all set to succeed eight-term MP and BJP stalwart Sumitra Mahajan as even the Opposition Congress and its UPA allies decided to support his candidature.
The election for the Speaker’s post is due to be held on Wednesday and Mr Birla, with 353 MPs in the NDA camp alone and some non-NDA parties like the BJD, YSRCP and AIADMK also backing his candidature, is all set to become the next Speaker.
The Kota-Bundi MP is considered close to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who is also now the Union home minister.
Earlier Tuesday, parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah and transport minister Nitin Gadkari had proposed the name of Mr Birla, that was supported by both NDA parties and some non-NDA allies like BJD, YSRCP and AIADMK. From the NDA camp, the JD(U), Shiv Sena, National People’s Party, Mizo National Front, the Akali Dal and the LJP signed the proposal for Mr Birla’s candidature.
An agriculturist and social worker, the low-profile leader has been in active politics from his student days.
