Om Birla, two-time BJP MP from Rajasthan, elected new Lok Sabha speaker

The motion moved by PM Narendra Modi to choose Om Birla as Lok Sabha speaker was passed by voice vote.

In the parliament, Modi congratulated Birla and said, " 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."/ PTI IMAGE

New Delhi: BJP's surprise pick, Om Birla, became the Lok Sabha Speaker after his candidature was backed by all NDA allies, Congress, BJD, DMK and TMC in the parliament on Wednesday. Earlier, a notice was given to the Lok Sabha Secretariat by the BJP, proposing the name of Birla, a two-time MP from Kota-Bundi seat in Rajasthan, for the Speaker's post and bringing a motion for his election. In the parliament, Modi congratulated Birla and said, " 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." "Personally, I remember working with Om Birla Ji for a long time. He represents Kota, a place that is mini-India, land associated with education&learning. He has been in public life for yrs. He began as a student leader&has been serving society since then without a break." PM further added. As per PTI sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed 57-year-old Birla's name for the post. The Rajasthan leader is considered to be close to both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Birla's surprise nomination is seen by many in the BJP as a message from the top leadership that the party will promote leaders who keep a low-profile and work at the ground level. BJD, YSRCP, JDU, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, National People's Party, Mizo National Front, Lok Janshakti Party, AIADMK and Apna Dal had given the notice to support Birla's candidature for the Speaker's post. Later, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the party and the UPA allies have also decided to support the candidature of Birla as the Speaker. Chowdhury also said the Congress has already moved a motion supporting the ruling party candidate. All you need to know about Om Birla-

• Birla, who won his first Lok Sabha election in 2014 and was re-elected from Rajasthan's Kota-Bundi seat.
• He defeated Congress's Ramnaraian Meena with a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes in the recently concluded general elections.
• He has also been elected to Rajasthan assembly for three consecutive terms in 2003, 2008 and 2013.
• He is a member of the Standing Committee on Energy in Parliament, member of Committee on Petitions and Consultative Committee for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Birla will succeed eight-term MP Sumitra Mahajan as the Speaker, a post traditionally held by senior MPs.

This will not be for the first time a relative newcomer will hold the position. In 1996, TDP leader G M C Balayogi was also a two-time MP when he was elected as the LS Speaker and after his death in a helicopter crash in 2002, Shiv Sena leaders and the first-time MP Manohar Joshi was appointed to the position. (agency inputs)