Rita Verma has no Mamata backing yet

NEW DELHI, July 29: BJP’s efforts to get its nominee Rita Verma elected as Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker ran into rough weather today when ally Trinamul Congress declared that it had not yet finalised its stand on the issue.Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee pointed out that support to the BJP and Deputy Speaker’s elections were two different issues. “In fact, I had openly suggested at the meeting of the BJP allies that the Congress candidate P M Sayeed is suitable for the post,” she said.But she hastened to add that she would hold consultations with the allies before finalising her party’s stand on the issue.

But Parliamentary Affairs Minister M L Khurana remained confident that the ruling coalition’s candidate would win without any problem. “We are in touch with Mamataji and I am sure the matter would be sorted out,” he observed.

According to him, there was no possibility of any hiccup as, after all, it was the alliance partners who had authorised Vajpayee to decide.