Mahua Maji Congratulates Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker

On Wednesday, JMM MP Mahua Maji congratulated Om Birla for being elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. She emphasized that, according to parliamentary traditions, the Deputy Speaker should be from the opposition.

Mahua Maji stated, “I congratulate him on behalf of my party. We (Opposition) didn’t have the numbers, so this (division of votes) wasn’t sought…The Parliamentary tradition has been that the Deputy Speaker should be from Opposition…This is a different time, the Opposition has strength…The opposition wanted to give a message so that this doesn’t happen in future and Opposition is heard…”

She further added, “I can’t say anything for sure. There is hope and if the ruling side wants the Parliament to function and together we work in the interest of the nation, then the ruling side too should support the Opposition…”

Mahua Maji also criticized BJP leaders for mocking Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who was elected as the Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha, saying, “…We welcome this. He is a mature politician. BJP tried to mock him over the past few days but he has proven himself…So, he will carry the responsibility well…”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut mentioned that the opposition didn’t ask for a division of votes, and Birla was elected in a very peaceful manner. He said, “There is a tradition. We didn’t oppose but there is a tradition that elections should not be held. We showed them that we will stand facing you; we are doing that. We didn’t ask for division (of votes) and Om Birla was elected in a very peaceful manner. Why is Om Birla being opposed? He is the same Lok Sabha Speaker who suspended more than 100 MPs at once. This didn’t happen during Emergency.”

Raut asserted, “Deputy Speaker post should go to the Opposition. Discussions are going on and it will happen.”