Kota BJP MP Om Birla elected speaker of Lok Sabha

BJP MP from Rajasthan Om Birla has been elected as the speaker of Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Birla was elected by MPs of various parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Om Birla. The Kota MP was a surprise pick as the BJP leadership ignored several veteran leaders to choose the 56-year-old for the post that was previously held by Sumitra Mahajan, who did not contest this summer's Lok Sabha election. The Speaker's post has traditionally been held by senior MPs.