Who is K Suresh, INDIA bloc's pick for Lok Sabha Speaker's post

Suresh currently represents Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala

Congress leader K Suresh on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the coveted post of Lok Sabha Speaker, challenging the NDA's repeat pick Om Birla.

K Suresh's name was recently doing the rounds for the role of pro-tem speaker since he is the senior-most member of the Lok Sabha.

The Congress even blasted the BJP after the ruling alliance nominated Bhartruhari Mahtab for the post instead of Suresh.

Now, Suresh is set to challenge Om Birla - BJP's Kota MP - for the post. The election, slated to take place on June 26, will be unprecedented since the speaker of the lower house has always been elected unopposed.

Who is K Suresh?

* Kodikunnil Suresh is an eight-term MP and the most senior Lok Sabha member. He currently represents Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala.

* He is Congress Working Committee Member (Special Invitee) and was one of the frontrunners for the post of Kerala Congress chief in 2021.

* He is also the working president of Congress's Kerala unit and the chief whip of Congress parliamentary party in Lok Sabha.

* He was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1989. He went on to win in the 1991,1996 and 1999 Lok Sabha eections from Adoor constituency. However, he was defeated in the 1998 and 2004 general elections.

* Notably, the Kerala high court disqualified his victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha election over allegations that his caste certificate was fake and that he was a Christian. The Supreme Court later reversed the verdict.