New Delhi- The government and the opposition have failed to reach a consensus on the nomination of NDA MP Om Birla for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker. The opposition Congress MP K Suresh has also filed her nomination for the post. With this, the election for the next Speaker of the country is scheduled to be held on June 26.

Earlier the government and the opposition had failed to reach a consensus on the issue of Deputy Speaker. According to reports, Union Minister Piyush Goyal had met with Congress leader KC Venugopal and DMK MP TR Baalu regarding the issue. However, the government was adamant that it would not announce the name of the Deputy Speaker until the election is held.

It is being speculated that the opposition is trying to condition the nomination of Birla for the Speaker on the issue of Deputy Speaker. However, the government has rejected this condition. According to reports, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had said that the opposition is ready to extend support to the NDA nominee for the Speaker post, but the Deputy Speaker post must be given to the opposition candidate.

It is being speculated that this is the first time there will be a contest for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker since Independence. In most cases, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has been elected without any contest.