- Monday, July 01, 2024
The three-time MP of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defeated K Suresh, the opposition candidate, in a rare contest on June 25.
By: Shubham Ghosh
OM BIRLA, who served as the speaker of the Lok Sabha or Lower House of the Indian parliament in the last five years, was on Wednesday (26) re-elected to the top post following a rare election.
Birla, who is a three-time MP of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Kota in the north-western state of Rajasthan, defeated K Suresh backed by the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in a voice vote.
The BJP leader is only the second speaker of the Lok Sabha after Balaram Jakhar (1980-89) to get two full terms.
The speaker of the Lok Sabha is elected by a simple majority. More than half of 543 members in the Lok Sabha vote for a particular candidate to become the speaker. Birla’s election was a matter of time since the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoys a majority with the backing of 293 members. The Opposition INDIA have the support of 232 MPs.
Following his election which became necessary after the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc failed to arrive at a consensus to choose the presiding official of the Lok Sabha, Birla was seen being escorted to his chair by prime minister Narendra Modi, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju.
Modi and Gandhi also exchanged smiles and shook hands on the occasion. Pro tem speaker Bhrtruhari Mahtab of the BJP was waiting in the chair for Birla and he welcomed him and vacated the seat.
Modi congratulated Birla, 61, on being elected as the speaker for the second time and also praised the latter for his “sweet smile”.
“I want to congratulate you on behalf of the House. It is a huge responsibility for you to sit on this post for the second time during the Amrit Kaal. With your experience, we hope that you will guide us for the next 5 years. The sweet smile on your face will keep the entire House happy,” the prime minister said.
Gandhi, who was dressed in white, also congratulated Birla “on behalf of the entire INDIA alliance” and for being the “final arbiter of that voice”.
“I would like to congratulate you for your successful election that you have been elected for the second time. I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Opposition and the INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of India’s people, and you are the final arbiter of that voice. The government has political power, but the Opposition also represents the voice of India’s people and this time, the opposition represents significantly more voice of the Indian people than it did last time,” Gandhi, who has taken over as the leader of the opposition in the new Lok Sabha, said.
The 54-year-old leader of the Indian National Congress also said that the INDIA bloc would cooperate with the speaker in carrying out his duty.
