India: Om Birla Elected as Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha

Om Birla, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the motion for Birla’s election, which was followed by his appointment to the prestigious post. Birla’s victory came over the Opposition’s candidate, Kodikkunil Suresh, an eight-term Congress MP.

Om Birla, hailing from Rajasthan’s Kota Lok Sabha constituency, secures his second consecutive term as the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament. His political journey began as the district president of the BJP’s youth wing in Kota in 1987, culminating in his election as an MP in 2014. Notably, Birla becomes the first Speaker since 1985 to be re-elected to this high office after completing his first term.

During his previous tenure, Om Birla oversaw significant legislative accomplishments despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership facilitated the passage of crucial bills and the historic decision to revoke Article 370. Under his stewardship, the Lok Sabha witnessed enhanced efficiency, exemplified by the substantial participation of first-time members and a record-breaking number of subjects discussed during sessions.

Additionally, Birla introduced innovative measures such as providing MPs with video clips of their speeches for social media sharing and initiating briefing sessions to improve parliamentary debates. One of the hallmark achievements of his tenure was overseeing the transition of Parliament from its traditional building to a new, modern facility.