Maneka Gandhi, Radha Mohan Singh, Virender Kumar in contention for speaker's post

Several senior BJP parliamentarians, including former Union ministers Maneka Gandhi, Rha Mohan Singh and Virender Kumar, are in contention for post of Lok Sabha speaker as party top brass deliberates to finalise its choice, sources said on Monday, June 3.

Former Union ministers Jual Oram and S S Ahluwalia are also among probable candidates, y said.

Eight-term MP Gandhi is most experienced BJP lawmaker in Lok Sabha and is being seen as a natural choice for speaker's post. She is also likely to be appointed as pro-tem speaker, being senior most parliamentarian in seventeenth Lok Sabha.

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Singh, a six-term MP, has emerged as a strong contender for job due to his deep roots in organisation and im of an affable and gentle leer, sources said. Also a six-time MP, Kumar's Dalit identity might work in his favour, y ded.

Ahluwalia was a minister of state for parliamentary affairs in previous government and is kwn for his kwledge of legislative matters.

A section of BJP leers is of view that leership may spring a surprise with its choice for post by appointing someone from sourn India.

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sources said that post of deputy speaker may go to  Biju Janata Dal (BJD) this time and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab is being considered for post.

Mahtab was awarded as best parliamentarian award for 2017. In sixteenth Lok Sabha, post of deputy speaker was held by M Thambi Durai of AIMK.

first session of new Lok Sabha is scheduled to begin on June 17. Election to post of speaker will be held on June 19. BJP-led NDA minee is set to be elected for post as it has nearly two-thirds majority in 542-member house.