New Delhi: Three-time BJP MP Om Birla was elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second time in a row today after the NDA candidate won the election by a voice vote. The election also saw a moment of rare bonhomie between the treasury and Opposition benches as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to Mr Birla to congratulated him and also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As the House applauded Mr Birla on his election, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju escorted him to the Speaker’s chair. Congratulating Mr Birla, the Prime Minister said his “sweet smile keeps the entire House happy”. “It is a matter of honour that you have been elected to this chair for the second time,” the Prime Minister said.
Rahul Gandhi has congratulated newly appointed Speaker Om Birla on behalf of the entire Opposition and said INDIA bloc is confident “the new Speaker will allow them to speak”.
Rahul Gandhi said, “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. The opposition would like to assist you in doing your work. We would like the House to function often and well. It is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust. It is very important that the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in this House,” Rahul Gandhi said
This was only the third election for the Lok Sabha Speaker after Independence. The voting took place after the Congress forced a contest and fielded its eight-time MP K Suresh as a challenger. The numbers, however, were clearly on Mr Birla’s side. While the NDA candidate had the support of 297 MPs, the Opposition pick had 232.
The Lok Sabha Speaker is generally chosen with consensus. This time, the government had reached out to Opposition parties for their support. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had then responded that it will support the NDA candidate if the Deputy Speaker is appointed from the Opposition benches.
