NATIONAL: Om Birla, a seasoned parliamentarian and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, has been re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. The election, which marked a departure from the tradition of consensus, saw a lively contest between Birla and opposition candidate K Suresh from the INDIA bloc. The motion to elect Birla was moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and was passed by a voice vote despite the opposition’s participation.

The election process was notable for its competitive nature, as it was the first in decades to involve a contest rather than an agreement between the ruling party and the opposition. The INDIA bloc, which had fielded K Suresh, ultimately did not press for a division vote, allowing the motion to pass smoothly. Leaders from various political factions, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, accompanied Birla to the Speaker’s chair, highlighting the event’s significance and the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

The NDA, which holds a majority in the Lok Sabha with 293 MPs, successfully secured Birla’s return to his previous position in the 17th Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha commenced on June 24 and is set to conclude on July 3. Following this, the Rajya Sabha will commence its 264th session on June 27, with President Murmu scheduled to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament. This re-election underscores Birla’s respected position and the NDA’s robust majority in the lower house.