Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Pro-Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha, Sparks Congress Criticism

In a move that has stirred controversy, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned parliamentarian from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been appointed as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha. This decision, announced on Thursday, deviates from the traditional practice of selecting the most senior member for the role, sparking criticism from the opposition Congress party.

As pro-tem Speaker, Mahtab's responsibilities will include administering the oath to the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha and overseeing the proceedings of the Lower House until a permanent Speaker is elected. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu has officially appointed Mahtab to this position. Assisting him will be senior members from various parties, including K Suresh from Congress, T R Baalu from DMK, Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste from BJP, and Sudip Bandyopadhyay from TMC.

The Congress party has voiced its disapproval of this appointment, highlighting that it overlooks Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term Lok Sabha member from their ranks. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Congress leader Manickam Tagore have both expressed their discontent on social media platform X, pointing out what they perceive as a disregard for parliamentary norms by the BJP-led government.

In response to the criticism, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya took to X to advise the Congress to reflect on their recent electoral losses rather than contesting the appointment. This selection marks a significant moment for Mahtab, who won the Cuttack parliamentary seat after switching from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to the BJP ahead of the elections.

Historically, there have been instances where the seniority convention for appointing the pro-tem Speaker was not followed, such as in 1956 with Sardar Hukam Singh and in 1977 with D N Tiwari. The most recent example before Mahtab was in 2019 when Virendra Kumar was appointed despite not being the senior-most member at that time.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence on June 24, with the election of a new Speaker planned for June 26. The newly elected members are expected to take their oath on June 24-25, setting the stage for the legislative activities of this new term.

This development has certainly set a precedent for political discussions and debates in India's parliamentary landscape. As the nation gears up for the upcoming session of the Lok Sabha, all eyes will be on how these decisions impact governance and political dynamics in one of the world's largest democracies.