Senior BJP MP Om Birla was today re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. He was elected with a voice vote as the opposition, which fielded Congress MP K. Suresh for the post, did not press for voting in the House. After his election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju escorted Mr. Birla to the Speaker’s chair. Mr. Birla had previously served as the Speaker in the last Lok Sabha.
In his address, Mr. Om Birla thanked all the members of the House for giving him the opportunity to serve as Speaker again and for their trust in him. He emphasized that enriching parliamentary values and democratic traditions will be his priorities. Mr. Birla highlighted that the 18th Lok Sabha represents the world’s largest celebration of democracy, with over 64 crore voters participating in the elections with great enthusiasm. He stressed that MPs have a responsibility to collectively fulfill the expectations, hopes, and aspirations of the people effectively. The Speaker underscored the importance of debate and discussion in the House instead of stalemate, emphasizing that protest methods should uphold the dignity of the House. Mr. Birla added that the Chair takes strict actions only to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House.
Earlier, congratulating Mr. Birla on his re-election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “History is being made today with the re-election of Mr. Birla for the second time.” He expressed confidence that the House looks forward to Mr. Birla’s guidance in the next five years, citing his past achievements as an inspiration for new members. Mr. Modi noted that the previous Lok Sabha, under Mr. Birla’s leadership, achieved record productivity of 97 percent, which increased public faith in parliamentary democracy.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Mr. Birla, affirming that the House represents the voice of the people. He assured Mr. Birla of the opposition’s support in ensuring the smooth functioning of the House, emphasizing that cooperation is based on trust and that opposition voices should be heard. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav expressed hope that the opposition would receive ample opportunities to voice their concerns, emphasizing the Speaker’s role in maintaining impartiality and respecting both the treasury bench and opposition members.
Various other leaders including TMC MP Sudhip Bandhopadhya, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, and others shared their perspectives on the occasion.
Disclaimer: This press release is sourced from News On AIR, Prasar Bharti and Press Information Bureau India (PIB).
