News outlets incorrectly claim 2024 Lok Sabha Speaker election a first since Independence

What is the claim?

Several news outlets reported on Tuesday, June 25, that an election is taking place for the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha, India's lower House of Parliament, for the first time since Independence. Previous Speakers, these reports said, had been elected unanimously without opposing candidates.

These reports came forth after Opposition parties decided to nominate Congress Member of Parliament Kodikunnil Suresh for the Speaker's position. The Indian National Congress (INC) explained the move, considered a departure from House tradition, as a response to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) not supporting an Opposition candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, nominated Om Birla, and he was subsequently elected for a second consecutive term as Speaker.

Initial reports supporting this claim were published by The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Mint, The Indian Express, Business Standard, Onmanorama, Financial Express, The News Minute, and Hindi-language news outlets Hindustan and Jagran Josh. Notably, Hindustan Times and Hindustan have since updated their reports, and The Indian Express deleted its Instagram post based on its initial report.

News organizations reported that 2024 is the first time an election for the Speaker’s post has happened in India. (Source: Mint/The Indian Express/Instagram/Modified by Logically Facts)

This claim was also shared by social media users on X (archived here and here).

Social media users shared the claim that 2024 is the first time an election for the Speaker’s post has happened in India. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, our investigation found this claim to be false. There have been previous instances where opposing candidates contested for the Lok Sabha Speaker's position.

What is the truth?

Records from the Lok Sabha dating back to 1952, when the first Speaker was elected, reveal that while Speakers were often elected unanimously, motions for opposing candidates have been introduced multiple times.

When were elections conducted for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker? 

In the inaugural Lok Sabha session on May 15, 1952, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and others nominated G.V. Mavalankar of the INC for Speaker. A.K. Gopalan of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and others introduced motions proposing Shankar Shantaram More. Mavalankar's nomination passed via division vote, rendering other motions ineffective.

In 1967, Ram Singh nominated Neelam Sanjiva Reddy of the INC for Speaker. N. Dandekar of the Swatantra party and others also introduced motions for Tenneti Viswanatham. As in 1952, Reddy's nomination prevailed through a division vote, nullifying motions for Viswanatham.

During the 1976 Emergency under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure, a motion proposed Bali Ram Bhagat of the INC as Lok Sabha Speaker. Prassanbhai Mehta of the Janata Party introduced another motion proposing Jagannathrao Joshi of the Jan Sangh. Bhagat's motion passed via division vote, making Joshi's motion ineffective.

In 1998, G.M.C. Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party became Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Initially, Sharad Pawar proposed Purno Sangma, but this motion was defeated by a voice vote. Subsequently, Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the BJP introduced Balayogi's nomination, securing his election as Speaker.

In all other cases, the Lok Sabha Speaker was elected unopposed.

The case of 1991 

In 1991, according to Lok Sabha records, Arjun Singh of the INC proposed Shivraj Patil for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker.

During the session, several members, including Lal Krishna Advani of the BJP, were invited to propose candidates for Speaker but declined. Records show that when Basudeb Achariya of the CPI(M) was called upon to present his motion, he stated to the Speaker that he wanted to nominate Rabi Ray of the Janata Dal. However, after some discussion, he decided not to proceed with the motion, and it was never officially recorded.

Ultimately, Patil's nomination remained the only one put forward, and he was elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Cut to 2024

In June 2024, Birla, who previously served as Speaker from 2019 to 2024, was re-elected to the position. Opposition parties proposed Suresh for the Speaker's seat, but the Treasury bench approved Birla's nomination through a voice vote.

Procedure for electing Lok Sabha Speaker

According to the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha, motions for nominating the Speaker, once moved and seconded, are presented in the order they are submitted. If necessary, they may be decided by a division vote.

The verdict

The claim that 2024 is the first contested election for the Lok Sabha Speaker post since India's independence is false. Various instances exist where opposing candidates contested for the position.