Even though she has been allotted the water resources portfolio, Congress MP from Sasaram Meira Kumar has emerged as the front-runner for the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post. Kumar’s name was mooted by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the party’s core committee meeting today.
According to Congress sources, Kumar’s name has been considered as it can send a strong social and political message. “Never before has a woman occupied the Speaker’s post in the Lok Sabha. She is also a Dalit,” a top Congress leader told Business Standard. Despite the party’s poor performance in Bihar, Kumar has been able to retain her seat.
Earlier, V Kishore Chandra Deo’s name was doing the rounds as he had strong support from a large section of the party.
