Om Birla Becomes Speaker Of Lok Sabha For Second Consecutive Term

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Lok Sabha speaker's post, Om Birla won the election with voice-vote on Wednesday, June 26. Om Birla became the speaker of Lok Sabha for second consecutive term.

The proposal of Om Birla's name for the speaker's post was moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the house, and was supported by the rest of the parties in NDA.

Soon after the election, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to Mr Birla to congratulate him and also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All members of the house stood up at their places to applaud Om Birla, when he was walking towards the chair to take charge. He was escorted by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

In his congratulatory message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I want to congratulate you on behalf of the House. It is a huge responsibility for you to sit on this post for the second time during the Amrit Kaal. With your experience, we hope that you will guide us for the next 5 years. 'Aapke chehre par yeh meethi meethi muskaan poore Sadan ko prasann rakhti hai'. Becoming the Speaker for the second time is a record in itself. Balram Jakhar got the opportunity to serve as the Speaker for the second term after competing 5 years and today you are doing the same..."

Prime Minister added the works that didn't happen during 70 years of independence, were made possible by this House under your chairmanship.

"Several milestones come in the long journey of democracy. A few occasions are such when we receive the opportunity to establish milestones. I am very confident that the country will be proud of the achievements of the 17th Lok Sabha," PM Modi said.

After Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addressed the house and congratulated Om Birla. He said "I would like to congratulate you for your successful election that you have been elected for the second time. I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Opposition and the INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of India's people and you are the final arbiter of that voice. The government has political power but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people and this time, the opposition represents significantly more voice of the Indian people than it did last time. The opposition would like to assist you in doing your work. We would like the House to function often and well. It is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust. It is very important that the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in this House."