BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed as Lok Sabha Pro Tem Speaker Amid Opposition Outcry
News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/24th June 2024
On Monday, June 24, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Bhartruhari Mahtab was appointed as the Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker, a decision that has sparked significant controversy. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Mahtab, despite strong objections from the opposition. Mahtab will preside over the lower house proceedings until a new Speaker is elected on June 26.
The Congress party vehemently criticized this appointment, arguing that their candidate, Kodikunnil Suresh, who has served eight terms in the Lok Sabha, was unjustly overlooked. Senior Congress leaders accused the BJP government of violating parliamentary norms and politicizing the pro tem Speaker appointment process. Jairam Ramesh, a prominent Congress leader, highlighted that traditionally, the MP with the longest tenure is appointed as the pro tem Speaker.
The primary role of the pro tem Speaker is to administer oaths to newly elected MPs and oversee the house’s proceedings until a new Speaker is elected. This appointment is mandated under Article 94 of the Constitution, which requires the position to be filled when it becomes vacant before the first meeting of the Lok Sabha. Additionally, the pro tem Speaker is responsible for overseeing the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, scheduled for June 26.
Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned politician, has been a member of parliament since 1998. He is the son of the late Harekrushna Mahtab, a two-time Chief Minister of Odisha. Before the Lok Sabha elections, Mahtab switched from his previous party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to the BJP. He has been repeatedly elected as an MP from the Cuttack constituency.
In the 17th Lok Sabha, Mahtab served as the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development. Besides his political career, he is also the editor of The Prajatantra, an Odia daily founded by his father.
Mahtab’s appointment as pro tem Speaker comes in the wake of the BJP’s significant victory in both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha. The BJP secured 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha and won 78 seats in the local assembly, enabling the party to form the state government.
This controversial appointment has set the stage for a heated session in the Lok Sabha, with the opposition ready to challenge the BJP’s decision. The Congress party’s discontent stems from what they perceive as a breach of parliamentary tradition and norms, arguing that Mahtab’s appointment is a strategic move by the BJP to consolidate power and influence within the Parliament.
As the new Lok Sabha session progresses, the political dynamics will be closely watched. The election of the new Speaker on June 26 will be a critical moment, potentially shaping the parliamentary landscape for the foreseeable future. Bhartruhari Mahtab’s role as pro tem Speaker, despite the opposition’s protests, marks a significant development in India’s parliamentary proceedings.
