New Delhi

Rare elections will be held for the post of the speaker of Lok Sabha on Wednesday (Jun 26). The ruling National Democratic Alliance has fielded the 17th Lok Sabha's speaker Om Birla, the Member of Parliament from Kota, as its candidate. The opposition's Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance ('INDIA') has fielded veteran Congress leader K. Suresh. 

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Elections for Lok Sabha speaker have taken place thrice in the past: In 1967, 1976 and 1998; and all times, the ruling coalition’s candidate sailed through.

Lok Sabha Speaker elections: What do the rules say?

Article 93 of India's constitution provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. Article 93 says: “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, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.

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Also read | NDA's Om Birla, INDIA's K Suresh to contest Lok Sabha speaker election, first since 1946

The Speaker must also be a member of the House, as per Article 94 of the constitution. Besides, conventionally, a deep understanding of the Constitution and the country's laws is valued for this role. 

Also watch | Parliament Session begins: PM Modi, other MPs to take oath; what's on agenda?

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The Speaker (along with the Deputy Speaker) is elected from amongst the Lok Sabha members "by a simple majority of members present and voting" in the House.

(With inputs from agencies)