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New Delhi
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Bhartruhari Mahtab was sworn in as Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker on Monday (Jun 24). President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath despite strong objections by the opposition. He will preside over the proceedings of the lower house of the Parliament until a new speaker is elected on June 26. His appointment drew sharp criticism from the Congress party, which claimed the candidacy of its member Kodikunnil Suresh, who has served eight terms in the Lok Sabha, was completely overlooked.
Senior Congress leaders accused the BJP government of violating parliamentary norms and politicising the appointment. Jairam Ramesh said the MP who has served the maximum terms as a member is appointed as the pro tem Speaker.
Pro tem Speaker
The pro tem speaker's primary job is to administer oaths to newly elected MPs and oversee the house proceedings until a new speaker is elected.
The appointment is required under Article 94 of the Constitution as the position of the Speaker becomes vacant ahead of the first meeting of the Lok Sabha.
The pro tem speaker also oversees the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, slated to be held on June 26.
Who is Bhartruhari Mahtab?
Bhartruhari Mahtab is a seasoned politician and has been a member of parliament since 1998. He is the son of the late Harekrushna Mahatab, a two-time Chief Minister of Odisha. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Mahtab abandoned his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party and joined the BJP. He has been elected as an MP from Cuttack constituency multiple times.
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In the previous (17th) Lok Sabha, Mahtab served as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development. He also serves as an editor of The Prajatantra, an Odia daily that was founded by his father.
His appointment follows the BJP's resounding victory in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha. While the saffron party bagged 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, it got 78 seats in the local assembly and formed the government in the state.
(With inputs from agencies)