New Delhi, June 26 (Agency) NDA nominee Om Birla was on Wednesday elected as the 18th Lok Sabha Speaker, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved the motion for his election.Om Birla became Speaker for the second successive five-year term after winning the contest against INDIA bloc’s K Suresh through voice vote.Pro-tem Speaker B Mahtab declared Birla elected after the Opposition, which had nominated Congress MP K Suresh, did not call for a division. “I congratulate you on behalf of the entire House and look forward to your guidance for the next five years,” PM Modi told LS Speaker Om Birla after his victory. The election was held after the ruling party and Opposition failed to reach a consensus last evening to choose the speaker with consensus.Traditionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected through consensus between the ruling party and the Opposition.
On June 27, President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament.Earlier, soon after Birla’s election as Speaker, PM Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated him and escorted him to the Speaker’s Chair. In his address, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi assured full cooperation in running the House smoothly. He also sought adequate opportunity for the Opposition to participate in House proceedings. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay also hoped the Speaker would give the Opposition adequate chance to speak and participate in proceedings.