For the first time in the history of the country, the Lok Sabha will witness an election for the Speaker's post. While the ruling NDA government has picked Om Birla again, Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh has filed nominations for the post, after consensus talks helmed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh failed.
As Suresh, one of the two senior-most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha, files a nomination, the House will witness history as the Speaker has always been chosen via consensus. Earlier, there was a controversy after Suresh was snubbed for the post of pro-tem Speaker in favour of seven-term Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, despite the convention of the senior-most MP occupying the post.
Who is Kodikunnil Suresh?
Suresh was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1989 and thereafter he won consecutively in the 1991,1996 and 1999 General Elections to the Lok Sabha from Adoor constituency for four straight terms. However, he was defeated in the 1998 and 2004 general elections.
The veteran Parliamentarian from Kerala's Mavelikkara constituency, Suresh overcame the anti-incumbency factor to register consecutive wins. The Kerala faction of Congress has always staunchly stood behind him despite Suresh himself urging Congress to find a replacement for him before the elections so that he can focus on state politics.
The MP served as Union Minister for State for Labour and Employment in the second UP government led by Manmohan Singh. He is now a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee meetings.
Suresh, a prominent Dalit candidate, was earlier disqualified by the High Court after his opponent in 2010, R S Anil of CPI, argued that he didn't belong to the SC community. Suresh had then won from Mavelikkara, a reserved seat.
Anil argued in the High Court that Suresh belonged to the OBC Cheramar Christian Community and not the Cheramar Hindu community, which was categorised as Scheduled Caste. However, Suresh approached the SC, winning the case and retaining his seat.
He also had several run-ins with the law, after being booked six times for rioting, unlawful assembly and obstructing a public servant from doing his duty.
