In a significant political development, Om Birla, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee, has been elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for a second consecutive term. The election, held today, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi moving the motion, which was adopted via voice votes. The house resonated with ‘Ayes’ and ‘Noes’, and pro-team speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab declared Birla the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament.
Despite the opposition fielding K Suresh from the INDIA bloc, they did not push for a division vote. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi escorted Birla to the Speaker’s chair. “I congratulate you on behalf of the entire House and look forward to your guidance for the next five years,” Modi stated.
This election marks a rare occurrence in nearly five decades where the Lok Sabha Speaker was elected by vote due to a lack of consensus between the NDA and the INDIA bloc. Traditionally, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected through mutual agreement between the ruling party and the opposition. However, the opposition had agreed to concede the Speaker’s post on the condition that the Deputy Speaker be from their camp, a demand the NDA rejected.
Om Birla, a three-time Member of Parliament from Kota, Rajasthan, faced Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Mavelikara, Kerala, in the battle for the Speaker’s post. The NDA’s majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha, with 293 MPs, ensured Birla’s return to the position he held during the 17th Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which began on June 24, is set to conclude on July 3. This session’s election underscores the political dynamics and challenges in the current parliamentary landscape.
