Om Birla, the National Democratic Alliance candidate and Member of Parliament from Kota, has been elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The motion for his election, moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was adopted by the House through a voice vote. The proclamation was made by pro-tem speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab amidst resounding ‘Ayes’ and ‘Noes’.
Opposition candidate K Suresh, nominated by the INDIA bloc, did not press for a division vote, solidifying Birla’s ascent to the Speaker’s chair. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi extended his congratulations to Birla, joining Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and PM Modi in accompanying him to the chair.
The election marked a departure from tradition, with the contest arising as the first in decades. Om Birla, a seasoned three-term MP from Kota, Rajasthan, faced off against Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Kerala’s Mavelikara.
Despite initial negotiations, the NDA, commanding 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, demonstrated its majority support, ensuring Birla’s return to the Speaker’s role he held in the previous Lok Sabha.
The ongoing first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced on June 24 and is scheduled to conclude on July 3, alongside the 264th Session of Rajya Sabha, running from June 27 to July 3. President Droupadi Murmu is set to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on June 27.
