The 18th Lok Sabha drew to a close on Thursday with Speaker Om Birla adjourning the House sine die, marking the end of a session that appeared productive on paper but was overshadowed by repeated disruptions and Opposition protests against the intensive revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls.
The state is due to hold Assembly elections in November this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh entered the chamber at 12.04 PM to attend the concluding proceedings.
In his valedictory address, Speaker Birla expressed concern over the conduct of some members. He singled out the use of placards and slogans that breached parliamentary norms.
Even as he spoke, Opposition members continued chanting ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’, openly disregarding the decorum of the House.
“Our conduct is being watched by the entire nation,” the Speaker warned. He urged members to protect the dignity of Parliament and the principles of democracy.
Speaker Om Birla reported that while 120 hours had been allocated for discussions by the Business Advisory Committee, disruptions allowed only 37 hours of debate.
Of the 419 starred questions tabled, just 55 were answered.
“This is not just a procedural failure. It is a breach of public trust,” Speaker Birla noted, stressing that citizens expect accountability over slogans.
Bills Introduced and Passed
During the session, 14 bills were introduced and 12 were passed, among them the Income Tax Bill, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the National Sports Governance Bill.
The Online Gaming Regulation Bill was also cleared, while the 130th Amendment to the Constitution Bill was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
However, Opposition demands for a JPC probe into the Bihar electoral rolls and other matters repeatedly stalled proceedings, leading to frequent walkouts.
The session also saw moments of national pride.
A special debate on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, took place on 28–29 July, with Prime Minister Modi addressing the House.
The operation was praised as a firm and strategic counter-terror measure, strengthening India’s defence resolve.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station was also celebrated. Speaker Birla hailed it as ‘a testament to India’s scientific excellence and global leadership’.
Still, the Speaker returned to stern reminders about parliamentary conduct.
“Slogans and placards, and unparliamentary language are not merely violations of decorum – they are insults to the democratic spirit,” he asserted.
The Opposition, however, continued chanting ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’ with greater vigour, even during his closing remarks.
Speaker Birla reminded members that Parliament is meant for debate and policy, not spectacle.
“Our conduct is being watched by the entire nation. We must rise to the expectations of the people,” he reiterated.
His appeals went unheeded as disruptions carried on until adjournment.
Reports and Papers Tabled
Earlier in the day, he had rejected multiple adjournment notices but permitted the tabling of reports from committees.
Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale presented reports from the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers. Gajendra Singh Patel submitted those of the Social Justice and Empowerment Committee for 2024–25.
Ministers, including Nityanand Rai (Home Affairs), Kirtivardhan Singh (Environment), Shantanu Thakur (Ports and Shipping), Ajay Tamta (Road Transport), Sukanta Majumdar (Education), and Murlidhar Mohol (Civil Aviation), also laid departmental papers before the House.
In closing, Speaker Birla thanked the Prime Minister and all members who had engaged constructively. He urged future sessions to recommit to dignity, debate, and democratic duty.
With the Monsoon session of the 18th Lok Sabha now concluded, attention turns to Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections. There is also hope that Parliament will reclaim its sense of order and purpose in the chapters ahead.
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