Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, treading cautiously over the selection of Assembly Speaker, will in all probability, not name his choice for the post. Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar will serve as the Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the Winter Session.
According to sources, KKR’s request to name senior MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy as the next Speaker was refused outright by the Congress High Command after Mr Manohar objected to him being bypassed for the post.
The High Command, keen to avoid any more trouble in the state Congress, especially after the resentment by the Ministers over portfolio allocation, told KKR not to name anyone for the Speaker’s post.
The High Command is also believed to have told the Chief Minister to maintain a high level of secrecy over the selection of nominees for the Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker's posts. KKR had already stated that the names would be announced at an appropriate time.
According to sources, all the nominees for the posts would be announced by the High Command after the party Plenary Session on December 17.
The normal procedure for selection of a Speaker would be that the Legislative Affairs Minister formally informing the Leader of the Opposition and other Floor Leaders about the government's choice to ensure that he or she is elected without contest.
This tradition was not followed during election of KKR’s election in 2009 when former chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy named him. This unilateral action drew heavy flak from the Opposition.
It remains to be seen how Mr Manohar manages the House and deals with Opposition leader.