New Delhi: NDA nominee Om Birla was on Wednesday elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second consecutive term after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adopted by a voice vote.
The Opposition, which had propped up Congress MP K. Suresh as the rival candidate, did not press for a division of votes in the Speaker's election. The Congress later said it had decided not to press further on the division of votes as they wanted to make a good start in the new session with the spirit of cooperation, not confrontation.
"We had decided on Tuesday evening itself not to seek a division of votes in the Speaker's election as the Opposition wants to maintain a spirit of consensus and cooperation. The INDIA parties exercised their democratic rights and moved motions in support of Mr Suresh as Lok Sabha Speaker. A voice vote was taken. Thereafter, the INDIA parties could have insisted on division. They did not do so. This is because they want a spirit of consensus and cooperation to prevail, a spirit singularly lacking in the actions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA," said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
If he completes the second term, Mr Birla will be the second Speaker after Balram Jhakhar to hold the Speaker’s post for two consecutive times. Mr Jhakhar had presided in the seventh and eighth Lok Sabha sessions.
Soon after the result was declared, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked across to greet Mr Birla. Thereafter, he, along with Mr Modi and Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, escorted Mr Birla up to the Speaker’s chair. Mr Birla (61) is a third-term MP from Kota in Rajasthan.
Congratulating the Speaker, Mr Modi expressed confidence that Mr Birla will yet again guide the parliamentarians and play a key role in the House. He said that Mr Birla had presided over a golden era in the Lok Sabha's history as a number of historic decisions were taken during its previous term. The Prime Minister expressed hope that his experience of five years and the members’ experience with him will enable the re-elected Speaker to guide the House in these important times.
The Prime Minister noted the polite and humble personality of the Speaker and his winning smile helps him conduct the House.
Mr Modi lauded the balance shown by Mr Birla in maintaining the decorum of the House, which also involved taking several tough decisions. He expressed gratitude towards the Speaker for choosing to uphold the values of the House while maintaining the traditions.
While saying that Mr Birla is second after Mr Jhakhar to be in this coveted office for a second consecutive term, Mr Modi pointed out the trend of a 20-year period in the middle when those who were elected Speaker either did not contest elections or did not win an election after their appointment.
Leaders from the Opposition, starting with Mr Gandhi, followed by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamul Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, and many others, congratulated Mr Birla and urged him to remain "impartial," not suppress the voice of Opposition and apply restraint orders, including suspension of MPs. They underlined that in the previous session, 150 MPs were suspended and several bills were passed without the participation of the Opposition.
Addressing the House, Mr. Birla said he expects the House to run without obstruction. “The 18th Lok Sabha should be a place of new vision, new resolve,and creative thinking. There should be decorum in the conduct of MPs, both in words and act. I hope members do not come to the well and obstruct proceedings. There can be positive criticism of the government and its policies, but no pre-planned impasse. There is a difference between protests in Parliament and protests on the roads. We are elected by people with hope, which is why I urge that there should not be disruptions in the House. I never want to act against any member, but everyone wants the high standard of parliamentary tradition to be maintained. For that, I have to make tough decisions at times,” said Mr Birla.
"Treasury and Opposition benches run the House together, the strength of Indian democracy is in listening to everyone and running the House with everyone's agreement. I expect that I will run the House with everyone's agreement. Even if there is a lone member from a party, they should get sufficient time," he added.
Interestingly, during the course of congratulatory speeches, Mr Birla had to intervene several times, reminding members to be precise and raise issues they wanted to during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. He said the members should remember for the next five years that others should take their seat when the Speaker is standing.
