KATHMANDU: Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the parliament has set January 26 to elect a new Speaker of House of Representatives.

Chief whip of main opposition Nepali Congress Bal Krishna Khand told Khabarhub that the parties agreed to hold the elections for Speaker on January 26.

“Parties have agreed to hold elections to elect new House Speaker on January 26,” Khand said.

The post of Speaker has been lying vacant after former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara resigned from the post on October 1 following rape charges against him by female staff at the Parliament Secretariat.

The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has decided to field Agni Sapkota as the candidate of Speaker while Deputy Speaker Dr Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe has tendered her resignation from her post today itself.

Speaker and Deputy Speaker must represent from different parties and genders as per the provision of the Constitution.