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Deputy speaker likely to come from BJP

The Lok Sabha is all set to witness a contest for the post of deputy speaker, with the government and the Opposition failing to reach an agreement.

The brief meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition Sharad Pawar could not solve the issue as both sides stuck to their position.

While Pawar maintained the post has always been held by the Opposition and hence should go to his party, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana, present at the meeting, insisted the ruling party should be given the post since the speaker belonged to the Opposition Telegu Desam.

The Congress has decided to field P M Sayeed for the post. Several names from the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Shanta Kumar and Mallikarjuniah, are also doing the rounds.

Almost the entire Opposition is supporting Sayeed's candidature, while the TDP has announced it would back the BJP.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and other BJP allies have authorised the prime minister to decide on the issue: whether the BJP should put up a candidate or no.

With the 11-member TDP backing it, the ruling party appears comfortably placed to win the election.

UNI

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