On the third day of the 18th Lok Sabha, Om Birla of the Bharatiya Janata Party was elected as the Speaker of the House through a voice vote, defeating opposition candidate Kodikkunil Suresh of the Congress. This was a rare contest for the Speaker post as the NDA government and the INDIA group of opposition parties could not reach a consensus. However, Mr. Birla had the majority with the support of the NDA and YSRCP. After his election, he was escorted to the Chair by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Om Birla's Election as Lok Sabha Speaker: A Historic Contest
Introduction: On June 19, 2019, Om Birla of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. This marked a significant political event, as it was the first contested Speaker election in decades.
Background: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha plays a crucial role in the functioning of the Parliament. They preside over the House, maintain order, and interpret the rules of procedure. Traditionally, the Speaker election has been a consensus-based process, with candidates often elected unopposed.
The Contestation: However, the 18th Lok Sabha election saw a rare contest for the Speaker post. The ruling NDA government (led by the BJP) nominated Om Birla, while the opposition Congress party fielded Kodikkunil Suresh. The reason for the contestation was the inability of the NDA and the opposition to reach a consensus on a candidate.
The Election: The election was held through a voice vote, with members of the Lok Sabha raising their hands to indicate their support. Birla emerged victorious, securing 303 votes against Suresh's 183. The victory was largely due to the support of the NDA, as well as the regional YSRCP party.
Impact: Birla's election as Speaker has significant implications for the functioning of the Lok Sabha. As a member of the ruling party, he is likely to play a key role in ensuring the smooth passage of government bills. However, his election has also raised concerns about the potential for partisan bias in the House.
Top 5 FAQs:
Who is Om Birla?
Why was the Speaker election contested this time?
What is the role of the Speaker?
What are the implications of Birla's election as Speaker?
Has there ever been a contested Speaker election before?
The war against the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu has gained momentum and support from the people of Maharashtra, where Chief Minister M K Stalin claims it is now raging like a whirlwind. The BJP, which faced backlash for their proposal to introduce Hindi as a third language in Tamil Nadu schools, has retreated for the second time out of fear for popular uprising in Maharashtra. The estranged Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, came together after 20 years to celebrate the withdrawal of the proposal at a victory rally in Mumbai. Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, who is also the president of DMK, praised Uddhav Thackeray's leadership and questioned the Centre's decision to impose Hindi and Sanskrit in the name of the three-language policy, stating that it goes against India's plural culture.
In a case regarding the ban on hijab in educational institutions of Karnataka, Supreme Court Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia declared that while discipline is necessary in schools, it should not come at the cost of freedom and dignity. Despite a split verdict, Justice Dhulia rejected the comparison of a school with a military camp and emphasized that public places have certain limitations, but the case did not warrant restrictions on fundamental rights inside a classroom. He stated that the facts of the case do not justify the ban on hijab, as schools are not required to have the same level of discipline as a military camp.
Tamil Nadu's Public Works Minister EV Velu has stirred up a political controversy by slamming the Union government's financial allocation for the promotion of Sanskrit. At a public event, he ridiculed the usage of Sanskrit in Hindu wedding rituals and stressed the importance of recognizing Tamil as a vibrant, living language. Velu's statements reflect Tamil Nadu's longstanding demand for recognition and investment in its cultural heritage, with several other leaders from the ruling DMK party echoing his sentiments.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy spoke out against former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, alleging that his decisions regarding Article 370 led to the loss of 42,000 lives in Jammu and Kashmir. He also paid tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who sacrificed his life while fighting for the country's integrity and opposing Article 370. Reddy demanded the repeal of Article 370 and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking action to revoke it and unite the nation.
In a bold and unprecedented move, tech mogul Elon Musk has announced the creation of the "America Party" in a bid to challenge the dominance of the Republican and Democratic parties in American politics. The decision comes after Musk conducted a poll on his social media platform X, receiving overwhelming support for a third political force. This move also marks a major fallout between Musk and President Donald Trump, after Musk threatened to use his wealth to unseat lawmakers who supported a controversial tax cut and spending bill.
After a public falling out with President Trump over federal spending, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced the formation of the "America Party" on his own social media platform, X. The party aims to combat what Musk sees as the country's entrenched "one-party system" and oppose lawmakers who support Trump's massive domestic spending plan. This move follows a poll on X where Musk asked if users desired "independence from the two-party system," with the majority responding yes. The feud between Trump and Musk escalated when the president pushed for his "One Big Beautiful Bill," which Musk vehemently criticized and coined as "debt slavery."
In a historic moment, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray publicly shared a stage after 20 years at a victory rally in Mumbai. This reunion was prompted by the withdrawal of two government resolutions proposing the introduction of Hindi as a third language in state schools. The rally marked an important turning point in the relationship between the once-estranged Thackeray cousins.
At least five Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers were detained for vandalising entrepreneur Sushil Kedia's Worli office, allegedly in response to his remarks about MNS leader Raj Thackeray amid the ongoing Marathi language row. Kedia apologised for his comments and praised Thackeray's advocacy of Hindutva, calling for a more positive approach to promoting the Marathi language. Union Minister Chirag Paswan condemned the reported assault of a Thane shopkeeper over language issues, highlighting the need for unity and respect among Indians. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed to take action against such acts of "hooliganism" in Mumbai.
The main and X accounts of renowned news agency Reuters have been blocked in India on social media platform X, as users discovered and reported on Saturday. The reason for this block is yet to be officially announced, but it appears to be a result of a legal demand or local laws. Despite the main handle being inaccessible, affiliated handles of Reuters remain accessible. It's unclear whether the block is temporary or permanent and if it's linked to a specific report or legal order against the platform. Stay informed with our latest blogs.
Amidst the ongoing controversy over the assault of a shopkeeper by MNS workers, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde caused a stir with his concluding speech at an event in Pune, where he raised the slogans "Jai Gujarat" and "Jai Maharashtra". While the opposition accused Shinde of being "greedy for power", CM Devendra Fadnavis defended him, stating that it was a customary practice to hail the state where an event is being held. The incident adds fuel to the ongoing debate on Marathi language and pride, ahead of the civic elections in Maharashtra.