Lok Sabha Session 2024 Highlights: Om Birla elected as Speaker of Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha gets adjourned. It will meet again tomorrow on June 27.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "This 18th Lok Sabha is the world's largest celebration of democracy. Despite other challenges, more than 64 crore voters participated in the elections with great enthusiasm. On behalf of the House, I express my gratitude to them and the people of the country. I thank the Election Commission for conducting the election process in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner and for the efforts made by them to ensure that even a single vote is cast in remote areas. The NDA government has been formed for the third consecutive term under the leadership of PM Modi. In the last decade, the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people have increased. Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to make collective efforts to fulfil their expectations and aspirations in an effective manner..."

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "I want to thank PM Modi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiu and all the members of the House for giving me the opportunity to work as the Speaker of the House again. I want to thank everyone for showing trust in me."

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, "I congratulate you...You are the repository and custodian of this House...so, I urge you to give opportunities to small parties...I am confident that this Government will reduce your burden by having a Deputy Speaker. You should not be burdened a lot...The character of this House has changed, now the BJP will not be able to do steamroll."
 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "...I congratulate you and extend you best wishes on behalf of all my colleagues. The post that you are occupying has glorious traditions attached to it. We believe that this will continue without any discrimination and as Lok Sabha Speaker you will give equal opportunities and respect to every member and party. Impartiality is a great responsibility of this great position...We expect that no public representative's voice will be stifled, nor will an action like expulsion take place again. Your control is on the Opposition but it should be on the ruling side too. The House should function on your signals and not the other way round. We stand with all your just decisions...I hope that you would respect Opposition as much as you respect the ruling dispensation and let them present their side..."

In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi 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."

"We are confident that by allowing the Opposition to speak, by allowing us to represent the people of India, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India. I'd like to once again congratulate you and also all the members of the House who have won their election," he added.
 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Om Birla's after he was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker. 

Om Birla is the only Lok Sabha speaker after Balram Jakhar to get two full terms. Om Birla was on Wednesday (June 26) elected as Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha. He was speaker of 17th Lok Sabha too.

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. 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..." says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "Respected Speaker, it is the good fortune of the House that you are occupying this Chair for the second time. I congratulate you and the entire House"

READ COMPLETE STORY HERE: BJP's Om Birla reelected as Lok Sabha Speaker, PM Modi extends congratulations

Om Birla elected as Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Speaker election, "It is a habit of the Opposition to put accusations. The government had asked for unopposed selection of Speaker and they will mull for Deputy Speaker but they did not accept and nominated their candidate, but they'll lose, we will get more than 325 votes. Om Birla will be the Speaker."

JMM leader Mahua Majhi said, "INDIA alliance has nominated a Dalit leader. K Suresh is an eight-time MP. If he would have been made the Deputy Speaker, then there would not have been any controversy. In the last 5 years, there was no deputy speaker. It has been a tradition to choose Deputy Speaker from the Opposition. The Opposition is strong this time. When they were adamant to not choose Deputy Speaker from the Opposition, we had no option but to go for election. They are choosing a seven-time MP when we have an eight-time MP. I extend my good wishes to Rahul Gandhi as a Leader of Opposition."

TMC is likely to support the candidature of Kodikunil Suresh for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker during the election, according to sources.

Consensus was not formed on the Speaker issue because the Congress, opposition wanted to do politics of pressure. We don't accept that," says Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan

"It is better for all of us to elect the Speaker unanimously. I think we still have time and we will make one more appeal to the Congress party but if we are pushed into the election, we are prepared," says Kiren Rijiju.

Union Minister and BJP MP Sarbananda Sonowal says, "We will win for sure. No matter how much they try, we will win..."