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P M Sayeed may pip BJP candidate at deputy speaker's post

The election of P M Sayeed as deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha appeared a foregone conclusion, with two of the main coalition constituents of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government lending their support to the Congress candidate.

With the open announcement of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham chief J Jayalalitha in Madras that the post of the deputy speaker should be allotted to the nominee of the main Opposition party -- the Congress -- in keeping with parliamentary convention, the arithmetic in the Lok Sabha tilted in favour of Sayeed, the ninth-time Congress MP from Lakshadweep.

The Trinamul Congress has already switched sides when its leader Mamata Banerjee backed the candidature of Sayeed on Tuesday. She had also conveyed her decision to the Congress leadership. The prospects of a faction of the Biju Janata Dal headed by Tatagath Satpaty supporting the Congress candidate cannot be ruled out in view of an open warfare in the nine-member BJD group in the Lok Sabha. A section of the Samata Party is also inclined to back the Congress candidate.

Though the BJP went on record that Rita Verma continued to be its candidate and that Defence Minister George Fernandes is in touch with the BJP's allies, the possibility of the government accepting Sayeed as a consensus candidate appears to be certain. A top BJP minister said consensus cannot be ruled out even at this stage.

Indications are that Speaker Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi would notify the election schedule by Monday and the poll if necessary will be held on Thursday. Sources close to the Speaker said he was keen that the post should be filled up at the earliest to help him to carry out his work. The sources also pointed out that distribution of computers to the members has been held up since the committee for the purpose should be headed by the deputy speaker.

UNI

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