Seven-Term MP Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Pro-Tem Speaker Of Lok Sabha

Bhartruhari Mahtab, a BJP MP, has been appointed pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha by President Murmu. He will oversee the oath-taking ceremony for new members from June 24-25.

File photo of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. ( Image Source :PTI )

Seven-term Lok Sabha member Bhartruhari Mahtab was appointed pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said.

He stated that Mahtab, a BJP representative from Cuttack, was appointed as pro-tem Speaker by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 95(1) of the Constitution to fulfill the duties of the Lok Sabha presiding officer until a new Speaker is elected.

As per the report of PTI, the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha will take oath or affirmation before the pro-tem Speaker. They will be assisted by a panel of chairpersons comprising Congress leader K Suresh, DMK leader T R Baalu, BJP members Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste, and TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh attacked the BJP saying that the seniormost MP in Lok Sabha, Kodikunnil Suresh from Congress, should be the protem Speaker.

"By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker Protem for the first two days when the oath is administered to all newly elected MPs. The seniormost MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their 8th term. The latter is now a Union Minister and hence it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be the Speaker Protem. Instead, a 7-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker Protem. He was a BJD MP for 6 terms and is now a BJP MP," the Congress MP said on X.

By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker Protem for the first two days when oath is administered to all newly elected MPs.

The seniormost MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 20, 2024

Mahtab's Swap From BJD To BJP

According to India Today, Bhartruhari Mahtab's appointment as the pro tem Speaker follows the BJP's electoral victory in Odisha. Mahtab, who is the son of former Odisha Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab, swapped from the BJD to the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At 66, Mahtab resigned from the BJD in March, citing a decrease in party activities, and shortly after, he joined the BJP.

He has served seven terms as an MP, representing Cuttack since 1998. 

In the recent elections, the BJP ended Naveen Patnaik's 24-year leadership in Odisha by securing 78 seats, surpassing the majority requirement by four seats, and establishing a state government. The BJD secured 51 seats, the Congress 14, and the CPI(M) one seat. Additionally, the BJP won 20 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats, with the Congress winning one.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence on June 24, with the new members taking their oaths on June 24-25. The election for the Speaker is scheduled for June 26.