K Suresh Files Nomination For Speaker's Post, Forcing Election For First Time

Mr Suresh's nomination underlines the tense stand-off between the INDIA group and the ruling coalition led by the BJP, which had approached the opposition to build consensus to re-appoint Kota MP Om Birla as the Speaker.

The Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc on Tuesday nominated Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-time Congress MP from Kerala, for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, triggering an election for the top parliamentary post for the first time since 1946.

Mr Suresh's nomination underlines the tense stand-off between the INDIA group and the ruling coalition led by the BJP, which had approached the opposition to build consensus to re-appoint Kota MP Om Birla as the Speaker.

The opposition told the BJP it was willing to back Mr Birla, but required the deputy's post to be allotted to a member of the INDIA bloc, in keeping with parliamentary tradition.