New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's choice for the Lok Sabha Speaker is set to become the unanimous choice for the job as all major parties are likely to back Meira Kumar's candidature.
The process of electing Kumar as the first woman Lok Sabha Speaker will be set in motion on Tuesday with the filing of nominations in her favour by both ruling and Opposition parties.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is expected to propose Kumar's name in the nomination paper, which is likely to be seconded by Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee.
Elections for the post of Speaker, if required, will be held on Wednesday.
Parliament sources said Kumar's candidature is likely to get an overwhelming backing of the UPA as also those from the NDA in the election as she would be the first woman and Dalit leader to occupy the post.
Though the government is yet to make a formal announcement, 64-year-old Kumar, who resigned as Union Minister for Water Resources on Sunday, said on Monday that she has been nominated for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker by the UPA.
"Yes I have resigned (from the post of the Union Water Resources Minister). UPA has nominated me for the post of (Lok Sabha) Speaker," the daughter of former deputy premier Jagjivan Ram and a five-time MP told reporters in New Delhi.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal had a meeting with the Leader of Opposition L K Advani. When asked whether his party would stake claim for Deputy Speakership, Advani merely said a meeting of the BJP's Parliamentary Board is scheduled for Tuesday, which would take a decision.
However, BJP sources said the party will nominate a candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker with the names of Karia Munda and Sripad Naik doing the rounds.
(With PTI inputs)