The Congress on Friday offered the Lok Sabha speaker's post to veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Somnath Chatterjee, sources said.

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The offer is being considered by CPM, they said.

Chatterjee met party general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet to discuss the offer, the sources added.

The CPM has decided to stay out of the Congress-led coalition government and support to it from outside.