Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Speaker Protem of Lok Sabha

Odisha’s Seven-Term MP Takes Temporary Charge of Lok Sabha

Bhartruhari Mahtab, a prominent political figure from Odisha and a seven-term Lok Sabha MP, has been appointed as the Speaker Protem of the Lok Sabha. This announcement was made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday. Mahtab will perform the duties of the Lok Sabha presiding officer until the election of the new Speaker.

Official Announcement

Minister Rijiju took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news, stating, “President is pleased to appoint Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member, Lok Sabha as Speaker Protem under Article 95(1) of the Constitution to perform the duties of Speaker till the election of the Speaker.” Mahtab, a BJP MP, will oversee the proceedings of the Lower House until a new Speaker is elected by a simple majority.

Assistance to the Speaker Protem

Rijiju also informed that several Lok Sabha members will assist Speaker Protem Mahtab in his duties. The appointed members include K Suresh, T R Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Sudip Bandyopadhyay. These members, appointed under Article 99 of the Constitution, will help with the oath-taking and affirmation of newly elected Members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Who is Bhartruhari Mahtab?

Bhartruhari Mahtab has been a significant presence in Odisha’s political landscape. A seven-term Lok Sabha MP, Mahtab was previously a member of the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) before joining the BJP in March this year, ahead of the elections. In 2017, Mahtab was awarded the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for his performance in Lok Sabha debates.

Role of a Pro-tem Speaker

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is responsible for presiding over the house and managing its day-to-day proceedings. Since the Speaker is elected by a simple majority, a pro-tem Speaker is appointed temporarily to perform these duties, including administering the oath to new MPs. Although the term ‘pro-tem’ is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, it is referenced in the ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.’

Opposition Reaction

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacted to Mahtab’s appointment, emphasizing that by convention, the MP with the most terms should be appointed as Speaker Protem for the initial days when the oath is administered to new MPs. Ramesh noted that the senior-most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both serving their eighth term. However, since Virendra Kumar is a Union Minister, it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be appointed as Speaker Protem. Instead, the seven-term MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who served six terms as a BJD MP before joining the BJP, has been appointed to the position.

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