President Murmu Appoints BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab As Pro-Tem Speaker Of Lok Sabha
Mahtab, a six-time MP from Odisha's Cuttack elected on a BJD ticket since 1998, joined the BJP ahead of the March 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday appointed Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem speaker under Article 95(1) of the Constitution. He will continue in the post till a speaker is elected. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, announced the news on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Mahtab, a six-time MP from Odisha's Cuttack elected on a BJD ticket since 1998, resigned from the regional party citing dissatisfaction with its recent performance. He joined the BJP ahead of the March 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The 18th Lok Sabha, comprising newly elected members, is set to conduct its first session between June 24 and July 3. During this period, the House will elect its new speaker.
The President also appointed Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Sudip Bandyopadhyay, as members of Lok Sabha under Article 99 of the Constitution to assist the pro-tem speaker.
The post of pro-tem speaker traditionally goes to the seniormost MP, who later administers oath to the Prime Minister's council of ministers and other MPs.
