Om Birla was re-elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha today by a voice vote. The BJP Member of Parliament from Kota, Rajasthan, was the NDA nominee for the post while Congress’ K Suresh Mavelikara, Kerala, was the INDIA bloc nominee.

After the election, Birla, the two time Speaker, was escorted to his Chair by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha), Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju.

PM Modi congratulated Birla and extended best wishes for the tenure ahead. “The House will benefit greatly from his insights and experience,” PM Modi stated in a post on X.

Rahul Gandhi too congratulated Birla on behalf of the INDIA alliance and said that the Opposition “would like the House to function often and well” and hoped that the Speaker “will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, allow us to represent the voice of the people of India.” Further, Gandhi stated that by allowing the Opposition to speak, the Speaker of the House will be doing his duty of defending the Constitution of India.

Later, Om Birla read out a statement where he condemned the Emergency imposed across India from 1975 to 1977 when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. He also called for two minute silence.

This resolution sparked protest from the Opposition and the house was adjourned.