Kota MP Om Birla elected as Lok Sabha speaker
NEW DELHI : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Kota, Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved the motion to choose him. Om Birla’s name was proposed by PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha and was supported by all major parties including Congress, TMC, DMK and BJD. A total of 13 motions were moved in support of Birla.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, named the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, urged Birla that the House should abide by democratic practices. “We believe in discussion, dissent and decision. And we expect our right to be respected. In parliamentary discussions, we must avoid the ordinance route because it is against democratic norms,” the Congress leader said.
PM Modi hailed Om Birla for the development of his Lok Sabha constituency Kota. He said that from helping the poor to assisting the homeless, Birla has always played the role of a humanitarian before politician.
“It is a matter of great pride for the House and we all congratulate Om Birla Ji on being unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Many MPs know Birla Ji well. He has served in the state of Rajasthan as well,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“I remember working with Om Birla Ji for a long time. He represents Kota,a place that is mini-India, land associated with education and learning. He has been in public life for years. He began as a student leader and has been serving society since then without a break,” PM Modi added.
Om Birla on Wednesday said he will run the House in an impartial manner while asserting that the chair should not be biased. Addressing the House after being unanimously elected as the speaker, Birla assured the members that he will preside over the proceedings in accordance with rules and regulations and “safeguard the interests of the members irrespective of the strength of their parties in the House”.
Seeking cooperation from all the members for thesmooth functioning of the House, Birla said they should raise the questions and issues that come under the ambit of the central government.
Born in 1962 in Kota, Rajasthan. He started his political journey as a student leader from Gumanpura higher secondary school in 1978. He went on to join Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). He was appointed president of Kota District. Later on he became BJYM’s Rajasthan state president, a post he held for 6 consecutive years.He went on to become national deputy president of BJYM.
Om Birla has also worked as a Parliamentary Secretary for Rajasthan Government, led by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from 2003 to 2008.
