BJP MP Om Birla Elected Lok Sabha Speaker Unanimously; PM Narendra Modi Lauds Parliament's Decision
Birla won his first Lok Sabha election in 2014 and was re-elected from Rajasthan's Kota-Bundi seat. He defeated Congress's Ramnaraian Meena with a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes in the recently concluded general elections.
New Delhi, June 19: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and two-time lawmaker from Rajasthan's Kota-Bundi, Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of Lok Sabha. His election was unanimous as the Opposition had not fielded a candidate to challenge him for the post. The prime reason behind the consensus is the brute majority held by the NDA in the Parliament's Lower House.
"It is a matter of great pride for the House and we all congratulate Om Birla Ji on being unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Many MPs know Birla Ji well. He has served in the state of Rajasthan as well," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. Who Is Om Birla? Know All About The BJP Nominee For Lok Sabha Speaker Post
"Personally, I remember working with Om Birla Ji for a long time. He represents Kota,a place that is mini-India, land associated with education and learning. He has been in public life for yrs. He began as a student leader&has been serving society since then without a break," he added.
Update by ANI:
As per reports, Modi had himself proposed 57-year-old Birla's name for the post. The Rajasthan leader is considered to be close to both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Birla's surprise nomination is seen by many in the BJP as a message from the top leadership that the party will promote leaders who keep a low-profile and work at the ground-level.
BJD, YSRCP, JDU, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, National People's Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, AIADMK and Apna Dal have given the notice to support Birla's candidature for the Speaker's post, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters.
Later, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the party and the UPA allies have also decided to support the candidature of Birla as the Speaker.
Chowdhury also said the Congress has already moved a motion supporting the ruling party candidate.
The decision to support Birla's nomination was taken at a meeting of the UPA allies, where the leaders also discussed the opposition strategy during the Parliament session.
Birla won his first Lok Sabha election in 2014 and was re-elected from Rajasthan's Kota-Bundi seat. He defeated Congress's Ramnaraian Meena with a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes in the recently concluded general elections.
He has also been elected to Rajasthan assembly for three consecutive terms in 2003, 2008 and 2013.
Birla has succeeded eight-term MP Sumitra Mahajan as the Speaker, a post traditionally held by senior MPs.
However, this will not be for the first time a relative newcomer will hold the position. In 1996, TDP leader G M C Balayogi was also a two-time MP when he was elected as the LS Speaker and after his death in a helicopter crash in 2002, Shiv Sena leaders and the first-time MP Manohar Joshi was appointed to the position.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 19, 2019 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).