Om Birla Elected Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh Explains Opposition’s Stance

On June 26, Om Birla was elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. The election was conducted through a voice vote, and the opposition did not request a division of votes. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh explained that this decision was a constructive step to foster a consensus atmosphere on the first day.

The election was significant as it was the first in decades without a consensus between the ruling party and the opposition. The opposition had fielded K Suresh as their candidate, but the motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was adopted by the house.

Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota, Rajasthan, was re-elected with the support of the NDA, which holds a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 and will conclude on July 3. The 264th Session of the Rajya Sabha will start on June 27 and end on July 3, with President Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both houses on June 27.