President Droupadi Murmu named Bhartrihari Mahtab, a seven-time member of parliament, the Pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Thursday, according to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Mahtab will hold the position of Pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha until a new Speaker is chosen.
Union Minister Rijiju made the following statement in a post on X: “In accordance with Article 95(1) of the Constitution, President Droupadi Murmu has designated Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro-tem Speaker. He will carry out the Speaker’s responsibilities until the Lok Sabha Speaker is chosen.”
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal responded to the development by stating that it is another attempt to subvert parliamentary norms, given that Bhartruhari Mahtab was named Pro-tem Speaker in place of Kerala’s eight-term MP and senior most MP, Kodikunnil Suresh.
