Om Birla, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate and MP from Kota, was elected Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The motion, moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was adopted by the house through a voice vote.

The opposition INDIA bloc, which had nominated K. Suresh as its candidate for Speaker, did not press for a division vote.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi extended his wishes to Birla and accompanied him to the chair along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Prime Minister Modi.

Traditionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected through consensus between the ruling party and the Opposition.

The contest between BJP’s Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota in Rajasthan, and Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Kerala’s Mavelikara, emerged after the NDA refused to accept the opposition INDIA bloc’s demand that the Deputy Speaker’s position be left for the Opposition in exchange for its support of the NDA nominee.

The NDA, which has the support of 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, demonstrated its clear majority to ensure that Birla returns to the chair he held in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 and will conclude on July 3. The 264th session of the Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3. On June 27, President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament.

(With ANI input)