Indian prime minister Narendra Modi faced a significant political test in his third term on Wednesday. A candidate from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected speaker of the lower house of parliament, defeating an opposition lawmaker by a voice vote.
Om Birla, from Modi's BJP and the incumbent speaker, retained his position, overcoming K Suresh, an eight-time MP from the opposition Congress party.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, appointed as the leader of the opposition late on Tuesday by his party, joined Modi in congratulating Birla on his re-election.
This marks Gandhi's first constitutional role in parliament at the age of 54, as a significant figure from the Nehru-Gandhi family.
"It is crucial that the opposition's voice is represented in this house," Gandhi stated during his remarks congratulating Birla.
Traditionally, the speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house, is a member from the largest party and is usually elected unopposed through consensus among parties.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 293 seats in the lower house, surpassing the required majority of 272 by 21 seats.
Modi, who was sworn in for a third term as prime minister on June 9, will seek support from regional parties to govern, following his party's loss of an outright majority in parliament.
The speaker, responsible for overseeing proceedings and business in the lower house, plays a pivotal role in the legislative process.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Curator Emma Slocombe with ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
View of the entrance to Blickling Hall on a rainy autumn dayAmit Roy 
Kente cloth from Ghana in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall 
Decoration in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Palampore fragment made in coastal south-east India in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Bed valance dating from early 1700s in the Italian Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room with Indian carpet in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Karun Thakar has picked out the geometric patterns in the bookcase and the Kente cloth in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Large tapestry depicting Peter the Great defeating the Swedish army at the Battle of Poltava in 1709 Amit Roy 
ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas made by women provide contrast to the men only portraits in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas in the entrance Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
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Kimono in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall 
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Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Table carpet, European 1670-1680 Amit Roy 
Unfinished 17th century Italian embroidery in the Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Picture of Kashmir shows a romantic view of India Amit Roy 
A panel of Ashburnham bed hangings made in Gujarat for sale in Europe in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Colcha made in the 1600s by women in Bengal for the Portuguese market in the Long Gallery at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
