New Delhi/IBNS: Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has underlined the importance of the Opposition's voice in the Lok Sabha, which has now a meaty number of anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, in his welcome speech for Speaker Om Birla, who was elected pipping INDIA bloc's candidate K Suresh on Wednesday.

In his welcome address, Gandhi said, "It is very important that the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in this House.

"The question is not how efficiently the House is running, the question is how much of India's voice is being allowed to be heard in the House. So the idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of the Opposition is non-democratic."

Gandhi joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in escorting Birla to the Chair, which the latter assumed for the second consecutive term.

Stressing on the resurgence of Opposition in the Lok Sabha elections, which denied Modi's BJP the majority, the Rae Bareli MP said, "This house represents the voice of India’s people and you are the final arbitrator of the voice. Of course, the government has political power but the Opposition also represents the voice of India’s youth and this time, more significantly than the last.

"The Opposition would like to assist you in doing your work and we would like the House to function often and well. Cooperation must happen based on trust and the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in the House."

Rare election for Lok Sabha Speaker's post

Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, witnessed a rare election for the Speaker's post after the government and opposition failed to reach a consensus after the incumbent refused to give up the Deputy Speaker's post, which was demanded by the rival parties.

INDIA bloc, the Opposition camp, demanded the Deputy Speaker's post in exchange for its support to NDA candidate Om Birla, who is elected from Rajasthan's Kota.

After the government and opposition reached no consensus, the INDIA alliance fielded Congress MP K Suresh as its candidate despite knowing the ruling coalition had the numbers under its belt.