Om Birla, BJPs two-time MP from Rajasthan, is the NDAs nominee for the post of Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha and is set to be elected on Wednesday, with at least 10 parties, including outside the BJP-led coalition, committing their support to his candidature.
The name of 56-year-old Birla was proposed by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh andTransport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshitold reporters in Delhi.
He said 10 parties have committed their support to hiscandidature and that even the main opposition Congress may not oppose him.
The parties include NDA constituents Akali Dal, Shiv Sena,JD(U), LJP, AIADMK, Apna Dal, National People’s Party (NPP) and Mizo NationalFront (MNF).
From outside the NDA, the parties which have committed theirsupport are YSRCP and BJD, Joshi said. He had also sought support from Congressleader Ghulam Nabi Azad and felt the party may not oppose Birla.
He will succeed 76-year-old Sumitra Mahajan, who did notcontest the Lok Sabha election this time.
The candidature of Birla, elected for a second successiveterm from Kota Lok Sabha constituency, is a surprise as there are BJP leaderslike Maneka Gandhi and Virendra Kumar who have been elected to the lower houseof Parliament multiple times.
However, this is not the first such case. Manohar Joshi ofShiv Sena had become the Speaker in his very first term in 2002.
Birla, a Masters in Commerce, has earlier been a member ofthe Rajasthan Assembly thrice from 2003. Born on November 23, 1962, he startedhis political career as a student and is known to be close to the RashtriyaSwayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
He has also been the Akhil Bharatiya Janata Yuva Mochanational Vice President as well as the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha statePresident in Rajasthan.
Birla made a strong contribution to the BJP particularlywhen he was the Parliamentary Secretary in the Rajasthan government from 2004to 2008.
His wife Amita Birla said it was a happy and proud momentfor the family.
For the last 35 years, Birla had been working from the boothlevel to strengthen the party, Rajasthan BJP spokesperson Amit Goyal said,adding he had leadership qualities.
Through his nomination, the Prime Minister had given amessage that anyone working for the party honestly and with dedication shall begiven the highest position, BJP MLA in Rajasthan Satish Punia said.
Punia said that Birla was the second leader from Rajasthanafter Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Vice President of India, to be given sucha big Constitutional post.”This gives a strong message to party cadre— work hard and you shall be rewarded,” he added.