To avoid getting further isolated in the Opposition quarters, the Congress has bitten the bitter pill to support AIADMK candidate Munisamy Thambidurai for the deputy Speaker’s post in the Lok Sabha.
Sources suggested that parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu met several Opposition leaders including those from Congress to build a consensus on Thambidurai’s name.
The Congress was initially hopeful of bagging the deputy Speaker’s seat as they are the largest Opposition party with 42 MPs.
But soon, there were enough indications from the NDA government that they would like to see key Opposition portfolios between distributed among different parties.
Apart from the BJP and Congress, Shiv Sena, TDP, LJP, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool, BJD, TRS, YSR Congress and NCP have decided to support Thambidurai.
The AIADMK leader will take over his post on Wednesday.