New Delhi, 20-06-2024 : Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned parliamentarian with seven terms in office, was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Thursday, announced Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Mahtab, a member of the BJP representing Cuttack, was appointed by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 95(1) of the Constitution. His role as pro-tem Speaker entails presiding over the Lok Sabha until the election of a permanent Speaker.
The newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha will take their oath or affirmation before Mahtab. Assisting him will be a panel of chairpersons consisting of senior leaders: Congress’s K Suresh, DMK’s T R Baalu, BJP’s Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste, and TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadyay. Mahtab’s appointment follows his departure from the BJD ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to join the BJP.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence on June 24, during which the newly elected members will take their oaths on June 24-25. Subsequently, the election for the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is slated for June 26.