BJP's Om Birla vs Congress' Kodikunnil Suresh for Lok Sabha Speaker election today: What's expected? Key things to know

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Lok Sabha Speaker election today LIVE UpdatesIt will be interesting to see how the election unfolds and what its implications are for the functioning of the Lok Sabha in the coming sessions.The battle for the Speaker post is between the BJP's Om Birla, a three-time MP from Rajasthan Kota, and Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress, an eight-term parliamentarian from Mavelikara, Kerala, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving parliamentarian in the 18th Lok Sabha.The situation arose when the NDA declined the Opposition INDIA bloc's proposal to allocate the Deputy Speaker's position to the Opposition in return for backing the NDA candidate.Traditionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker were elected through consensus between the ruling party and the Opposition.Both the BJP in power and the primary opposition Congress Party have issued strict three-line whips to their members, requiring their attendance in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday from 11 am until the conclusion of the day's proceedings.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), with 16 seats, and Janata Dal (U), with 12 seats, are the biggest allies of the BJP, which won 240 seats.The NDA, which commands 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, holds a clear majority, with YSRCP supporting them; their numbers now stand at 297, while the opposition INDIA bloc comprises 234 MPs.The last contest for the Central Legislative Assembly Speaker post was held on January 24, 1946.