1. BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was sworn in as the Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker on Monday, preceding the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha.
2. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Mahtab at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
3. He will oversee the oath-taking ceremony for newly elected MPs.
New Delhi, June 24: BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was sworn in as the Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker on Monday, ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, despite strong objections from the Opposition.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Mahtab at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Mahtab is set to preside over the Lok Sabha session, which begins today and will oversee the oath-taking ceremony for newly elected MPs.
The appointment of Mahtab has drawn criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Congress, which alleges that the government overlooked the claim of its member Kodikunnil Suresh, who has served eight terms in the Lok Sabha.
Suresh was expected to be appointed pro tem Speaker based on seniority, a convention historically followed in the Lok Sabha.
Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal, have accused the BJP-led government of violating parliamentary norms and politicizing the appointment.
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Ramesh stated that by convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed pro tem Speaker for the first two days when the oath is administered to all newly elected MPs.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the appointment, asserting that Mahtab has had seven uninterrupted terms as a Lok Sabha member, making him eligible for the post.
Meanwhile, Suresh’s electoral defeats in 1998 and 2004 mean that his current term is his fourth consecutive one in the Lower House.
