On July 31, 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla formally nominated N.K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament from Kollam, Kerala, as one of the empanelled members authorized to preside over House proceedings in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker—a significant gesture underscoring parliamentary inclusiveness.
🏛️ Understanding the Empanelled Member Role
Under Section 9 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the Speaker may nominate up to 10 members to a panel. These empanelled members can preside over sessions if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or at the Speaker’s request.
Historically, these roles have been filled by trusted senior members across party lines—ensuring that parliamentary business continues smoothly even in the Speaker’s absence. They must command respect across the House and be deeply familiar with parliamentary procedure.
🧑‍⚖️ Who Is N.K. Premachandran?
N.K. Premachandran, a veteran leader of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), represents Kollam, Kerala, in the Lok Sabha. Respected for his parliamentary acumen and decorum, he has served multiple terms and has often been recognized for his constructive voice in the House.
His selection stands as a testament to both his personal reputation and Speaker Birla’s willingness to draw from opposition benches for parliamentary leadership.
🤝 A Surprise with Historical Echoes
This nomination bears echoes of an earlier moment: during the 17th Lok Sabha, Birla surprised many by including Premachandran in the panel of presiding officers despite his opposition affiliation—a move that RSP MP Premachandran himself described as unexpected and historic.
In 2019, this gesture earned praise across party lines. Members appreciated the Speaker’s approach of inclusivity—giving even the smallest parties a role in presiding over the House. Observers noted that Breaking tradition, “almost all members were given a chance to speak… without looking at party affiliations.”
🏛️ Why This Matters Now
- Strengthening parliamentary balance: By empowering members from outside the ruling coalition, Birla reinforces the symbolic equal importance of every MP, regardless of party strength.
- Legitimacy in absence: When the Speaker or Deputy Speaker cannot preside, the House is in capable hands. Empanelled chairpersons chairing proceedings maintain procedural integrity.
- Democratic optics: In a politically polarised era, this move projects fair play—a message that governance and institutional roles should transcend partisan lines.
🔍 Broader Context: Birla’s Leadership and Opposition
Om Birla, elected for a second consecutive term as Lok Sabha Speaker in June 2024, has often walked a tightrope between efficiency and impartiality. Although praised by many for his administrative competence and record-breaking productivity in the 17th Lok Sabha, his tenure has also seen controversial mass suspensions of opposition MPs (notably 100 during winter 2023).
Yet critics have raised concerns about fewer bills being referred to parliamentary committees—and the friction between decorum and democratic dissent.
đź“… Timeline of Events
- June 26, 2024: Birla is re-elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive term. Opposition parties urge him to be impartial and refrain from silencing dissent.
- June–July 2024: Birla commences his second term amid heightened tension and debate about the Emergency legacy and parliamentary conduct.
- July 31, 2025: Speaker Om Birla formally nominates N.K. Premachandran as an empanelled chairperson, reaffirming a tradition of cross-party inclusion.
✍️ Impact & Relevance: What It Signals
1. Parliamentary Diplomacy
This move shows parliamentary diplomacy in action: offering leadership roles to respected members from outside the ruling coalition fosters goodwill, and fosters confidence in the institution itself.
2. Public Perception
For citizens watching from home, the inclusion signals that Lok Sabha chairs are not monopolized by the ruling side—a welcome sign of institutional integrity.
3. Procedural Continuity
With sessions often running late or being disrupted, having a panel of trusted presiding members ensures no halt in business, but also that debates remain structured and dignified.
🧠Challenges Ahead
There remain questions over impartiality. Critics point to past instances where opposition MPs faced mass suspensions, and where committee referrals were limited. The key will be whether such gestures of inclusion translate into institutional trust—or remain symbolic.
Will the Speaker empower dissenting voices when needed? Will Premachandran’s role translate into fair process in sensitive debates? Time will tell.
🎯 Conclusion
Om Birla’s July 31, 2025 nomination of N.K. Premachandran as an empanelled member to preside over Lok Sabha sessions is more than a procedural formality—it’s a reaffirmation of inclusive democratic practice.
By entrusting opposition members with leadership roles, Birla reinforces his own credibility as a Speaker, and bolsters institutional resilience. For Premachandran, it is both acknowledgment and responsibility: a recognition of his parliamentary maturity, and a role that carries expectations of fairness and leadership.