In his inaugural address as Leader of the Opposition in the 18th Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended congratulations to BJP’s Om Birla for his re-election as Lok Sabha Speaker. Gandhi emphasized the Speaker’s role as the ultimate adjudicator of the people’s voice, noting that this time, the opposition represents a significantly stronger voice than in the previous session.
Dressed in a white kurta pyjama, Rahul Gandhi stated, “I congratulate you on your successful re-election. On behalf of the entire Opposition and the INDIA alliance, I extend my congratulations.” He underscored, “This House represents the voice of the Indian people, and you are its final adjudicator. While the government holds political power, the opposition equally represents the voice of the people.”
Gandhi assured the Speaker of full cooperation from the opposition in the House’s functioning, emphasizing the importance of trust and the need for the opposition’s voice to be heard. “We are confident that by allowing the opposition to express itself and represent the people of India, you will uphold your duty to defend the Constitution,” he added.
Om Birla, candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and MP from Kota, was elected Speaker after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which was adopted through a voice vote. The session resonated with ‘Ayes’ and ‘Noes’ before Om Birla was declared Speaker by pro-tem speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab.
