Woman speaker for Lok Sabha?

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Is the Lok Sabha going to elect its first woman speaker?

Congress sources say that although veteran parliamentarian V. Kishore Chandra Deo is the front-runner for the post, there is every likelihood of the Lok Sabha going for its first woman speaker.

Even though no Congress leader was willing to speak on record, party sources admitted that a handful of names were doing the rounds for the all-important speaker's job.

Possible leading women contenders for the post include Water Resources Minister Meira Kumar and Congress MP from Rajasthan Girija Vyas.

Meira Kumar's case is strengthened by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena's adamant refusal to join the council of ministers unless he gets at least independent control of a ministry since he has been a cabinet minister in the past.

With Prime Manmohan Singh in no position to increase the number of cabinet ministers, the only way Jena can come in is if one of the existing ministers is eased out.