Keshkal MLA and a tribal leader from Bastar, Santram Netam, will be the Congress candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker in the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
A decision in this regard was taken at a legislative party meeting held at Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s official residence on Tuesday evening, Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma told the media.
The post fell vacant following the death of Manoj Mandavi.
Nominations for the post are to be done in the Assembly till Wednesday afternoon. An election, if necessary, will be held on January 5.
In the 90-member Assembly, the Congress has 71 seats, the BJP 14, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh-Jogi (JCC-J) 3 and the Bahujan Samaj Party 2.