Om Birla was elected Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha by voice vote as the Opposition did not press for a division of votes. The elections also witnessed a moment of rare friendliness as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to the re-elected Speaker to congratulate him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite swearing to remain non-partisan, he took the chance to make a statement condemning the imposition of Emergency and naming former PM Indira Gandhi and the Congress for it. Of course, the Emergency tool was a vibrant assault on democracy and need not be defended. But the statement in the House appeared targeted at the Congress. In fact, the draconian powers used by the current government during its last two stints are reminiscent of the dark days where authoritarianism was on display by passing important bills without taking opposition into consideration, mass suspension of members of the Opposition in a bid to suppress dissenting voices as well as frequent disruptions in and adjournment of the House, etc. The Speaker should be non-partisan and ensure that Parliament is not used to undermine democracy, as it was during the Emergency.
