Neelam Sanjiva Reddy is the only Speaker since Independence who after assuming the office of Speaker formally resigned from his political party. He also had the distinction of being the only Speaker who was later unanimously elected as the President of the Republic.

Reddy served as Speaker for two non-consecutive terms. His first term as Speaker was from March 17, 1967 till August 19, 1969. His second term was from March 26, 1977 till August 13, 1977.

During Reddy's tenure, many significant rulings were given and conventions laid down which have enriched the parliamentary traditions and practices. Reddy, for the first time, allowed a no-confidence motion to be taken up for discussion on the same day when the President addressed both the Houses, He believed that urgent matters should not be delayed by taking recourse to traditions and precedents.

On July 19, 1969, Reddy resigned as Speaker to contest the Presidential election which he lost by a narrow margin. After a period of voluntary exile from politics, Reddy was back in the sixth Lok Sabha. On March 26, 1977, he was unanimously elected the Speaker again. However, this time too, he could not complete his full term as after serving for four months, he again resigned to file nomination papers for the Presidential election. Reddy was elected President on July 25, 1977.