Bhartruhari Mahtab as Lok Sabha Speaker Protem riles Opposition
Image credit X @LoksabhaSectt
Prez Murmu appoints BJP MP as Speaker protem of Lok Sabha
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, June 20: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday appointed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Speaker Protem. While not being the senior most member of the House, Mahatab will oversee the oath-taking exercise of the newly-elected MPs.
Mahatab will also oversee the election for the next Lok Sabha Speaker. Mahatab had switched allegiance to the BJP from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.
Mahatab is the seven-term Lok Sabha MP. He is also a winner of the best parliamentarian award in the past.
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Mahatab is an MP from Cuttack in Odisha. He was leader of the BJD in the 17th Lok Sabha.
But Mahatab is not the senior most MP in the 18th Lok Sabha. The convention mandates that the senior most member of the House be appointed Speaker Protem.
President Murmu appointed Mahatab as Speaker Protem under Article 95(1) of the Constitution. He will preside over the proceedings of the Lok Sabha until the Speaker is elected.
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“President is also pleased to appoint Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Members of Lok Sabha under Article 99 of the Constitution to assist Speaker Protem in Oath/Affirmation to newly-elected Members of 18th Lok Sabha till election of the Speaker,” stated Union Minister for parliamentary affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in a post in the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The Congress communication department chief Jairam Ramesh charged that the convention has been disregarded in the appointment of the Speaker Protem.
“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,” said Ramesh on X.
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The Congress leader said that 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”.
However, Suresh is on the panel who will assist Mahatab in conducting the businesses of the Lok Sabha until the Speaker is elected. The Opposition has said that there will be a contest in the election for the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker.
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