NEW DELHI: Om Birla, a three-term Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Kota, has been re-elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second consecutive term in an election that was thwarted due to opposition parties’ reluctance to vote despite the Indian National Congress fielding its candidate, K. Suresh. Birla, 62, was elected through a call-and-vote process.
There were 13 motions in favour of Birla, the first of which was submitted by PM Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while the others were drawn from NDA partners and BJP supporters, representing different castes.
With the Indian National Congress and its allies the Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, NCP and RSP all keen to see Suresh field a candidate based on his Dalit background, his proposal for a candidate made the first election in nearly five decades seem imminent.
The Trinamool Congress’ decision not to nominate Suresh in protest against the Congress’ unilateral decision to declare him its candidate appears to be the main reason why the Congress did not seek a division of votes.
Birla elected to second term as fifth Speaker of the Lok Sabha Efforts to forge a consensus on Tuesday, involving Opposition leaders KC Venugopal and TR Bahl of the DMK, as well as Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, failed when the government again rejected the demand that the deputy speaker be from the opposition.
But despite attempts by Union Animal Husbandry Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” to lure the Congress to vote, it did not press for one, resulting in the 62-year-old Birla winning by oral vote.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Birla on his re-election and expressed confidence that he would play a major role in leading the Congress and meeting the expectations of the people.
After his election, Birla told MPs that the 18th Lok Sabha needs a new vision and determination. He asked the Lok Sabha to become a centre of creative thinking and new ideas and to uphold the traditions and dignity of Parliament at a high level. PM Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, along with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, escorted Birla to the Speaker’s bench after his election, creating a harmonious moment.
Birla has been elected for a second consecutive term, marking the fifth time a Speaker has served more than one term.
It also marks one of the few times an election is now required for a position that traditionally has been decided by unanimity.
Birla, who has risen through the ranks within the BJP, is also a three-term member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
There were 13 motions in favour of Birla, the first of which was submitted by PM Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while the others were drawn from NDA partners and BJP supporters, representing different castes.
With the Indian National Congress and its allies the Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, NCP and RSP all keen to see Suresh field a candidate based on his Dalit background, his proposal for a candidate made the first election in nearly five decades seem imminent.
The Trinamool Congress’ decision not to nominate Suresh in protest against the Congress’ unilateral decision to declare him its candidate appears to be the main reason why the Congress did not seek a division of votes.
Birla elected to second term as fifth Speaker of the Lok Sabha Efforts to forge a consensus on Tuesday, involving Opposition leaders KC Venugopal and TR Bahl of the DMK, as well as Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and JP Nadda, failed when the government again rejected the demand that the deputy speaker be from the opposition.
But despite attempts by Union Animal Husbandry Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” to lure the Congress to vote, it did not press for one, resulting in the 62-year-old Birla winning by oral vote.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Birla on his re-election and expressed confidence that he would play a major role in leading the Congress and meeting the expectations of the people.
After his election, Birla told MPs that the 18th Lok Sabha needs a new vision and determination. He asked the Lok Sabha to become a centre of creative thinking and new ideas and to uphold the traditions and dignity of Parliament at a high level. PM Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, along with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, escorted Birla to the Speaker’s bench after his election, creating a harmonious moment.
Birla has been elected for a second consecutive term, marking the fifth time a Speaker has served more than one term.
It also marks one of the few times an election is now required for a position that traditionally has been decided by unanimity.
Birla, who has risen through the ranks within the BJP, is also a three-term member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
