BJP picks Karia Munda as Dy Speaker

As formalities got underway for a unanimous election of Meira Kumar as Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday,the BJP,matching the Congress’s Dalit card with its Adivasi response,nominated Karia Munda for the post of her deputy.

Names of several candidates had suddenly cropped up in the BJP camp for the post of Deputy Speaker. The names of former ministers — Shahnawaz Hussain and Ramesh Bais — and senior members Sumitra Mahajan and Sripad Naik got in circulation besides that of Munda. Since the Jharkhand leader outmatched the rest in terms of stature,the leadership settled on his name. As the new assignment would ensure that he sits next to Advani,his presence would broaden the profile of the BJP front bench.

Munda,72,is a six-time MP. He first became a minister in the Morarji Desai government. “It is an honour for the Adivasis,” Munda said.

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Meanwhile,all parties proposed Kumar’s candidature to facilitate her unanimous election. Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee submitted a total of 13 sets of nomination papers to the Secretary General. The first set was signed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

One set was signed by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and seconded by aSushma Swaraj.

The other sets of nomination papers were signed by RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD),Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP),Praful Patel (NCP) and Farooq Abdullah (National Conference).