Lok Sabha Speaker's Election: What does the Constitution say?

For the first time in India's independent history, an election will be held for the position of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The ruling National Democratic Alliance has put forward Om Birla, the current Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament from Kota, as its candidate.

The Opposition's Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has nominated veteran Congress leader K. Suresh. Lok Sabha Speaker Elections: Constitutional Provisions Article 93 of the Indian Constitution mandates the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

It states: “The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof” and that whenever these offices become vacant, the House must elect new members to fill them. According to Article 94, the Speaker must be a member of the House. Additionally, it is traditionally important for the Speaker to have a thorough understanding of the Constitution and the nation's laws.

Election Process and Tradition Historically, the process involves the ruling party nominating a candidate after informal discussions with leaders of other parties and groups within the House. This tradition aims to ensure that the Speaker is seen as impartial by all parties. Once a candidate is chosen, their name is typically proposed by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. The Speaker (and the Deputy Speaker) is elected by a simple majority of members present and voting in the House.