Om Birla Re-Elected as Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha, Proposed by PM Modi
New Delhi, 26th June 2024: Om Birla, the NDA candidate, has been re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed his nomination, and it was seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, leading to its approval by the house through a voice vote.
Despite the opposition nominating K Suresh for the Speaker position, they opted not to call for a division vote. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh explained that the INDIA bloc refrained from insisting on a division vote to promote a spirit of consensus and cooperation.
“INDIA parties exercised their democratic right by supporting Kodikunnil Suresh for Lok Sabha Speaker. A voice vote was taken, and Indian parties chose not to insist on a division. This decision was made to foster a spirit of consensus and cooperation, which has been notably absent in the actions of the PM and the NDA,” Jairam Ramesh stated in a post on X.
In his inaugural speech as the leader of the opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Om Birla on his re-election. Gandhi highlighted the important role of the Lok Sabha Speaker as “the final arbiter of the voice of the people,” emphasizing that the opposition in this Lok Sabha represents that voice to a greater extent than in the previous 17th Lok Sabha. He also committed the opposition’s support to the Speaker to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
