Lok Sabha Speaker Nomination: Rahul Gandhi says will support the choice if Dy speaker post given to oppn

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the opposition will support the government on the Lok Sabha Speaker's choice if they give the deputy speaker's post to the opposition bloc. He also said that Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh was yet to get back to them on the opposition's demand for the deputy speaker's post.

Separately, Kota MP Om Birla met Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid indications that he could be fielded for the post of Lok Sabha speaker, a position he held in the previous House.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge late on Monday night and sought the support of the opposition on the issue.

Singh, however, gave no assurance to the opposition on its demand for the deputy speaker's post, the sources said.

There has been no deputy Speaker in the last tenure.

The NDA candidate Om Birla for the key parliamentary position will file his nomination at 11.30 am.

Besides Kharge, Singh also spoke to DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Stalin among other opposition leaders in efforts to build a consensus.