The idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of the Opposition is a non democratic idea, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, addressing the Speaker.

The NDA's Om Birla was elected as Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha by voice vote minutes earlier. The Opposition did not insist on division of votes.

"I would like to congratulate you for your successful election for the second time that you have been elected,” Rahul said in his first speech as Leader of the Opposition.

“I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire Opposition, on behalf of the INDIA alliance. Speaker sir, this House represents the voice of India's people, and you are the final arbiter of that voice. Of course, the government has political power but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people.

“And this time, the Opposition represents significantly more, the voice of the Indian people than it did last time,” he said to applause from the Opposition MPs.

“Speaker sir, the Opposition would like to assist you in doing your work. We would like the House to function often and well. Speaker sir, it is very important that cooperation happens on the basis of trust. It is very important that the voice of the Opposition is allowed to be represented in this House,” he said.

“I am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, allow us to represent the voice of the people.

“The question is not how efficiently the House is run. The question is how much of India’s voice is allowed to be heard in this House,” he added.

“Speaker sir, so the idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of the Opposition is a non-democratic idea. And this election has shown that the people of India expect the Opposition to defend the Constitution, the Samvidhan of this country.

“And we are confident that by allowing the Opposition to speak, by allowing us to represent the voice of the people of India, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India.”

He ended his speech by once again congratulating the new Speaker and all the elected MPs.