File photo: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath
Senior Congress leader and former union minister Kamal Nath will be the pro-tem speaker of the new Lok Sabha.
As the pro-tem speaker, Mr Nath will be expected to formally kick-off the proceedings to the new Lok Sabha. Among his responsibilities will be to swear-in the newly-elected MPs and facilitate the election of the Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha. (
Kamal Nath Likely to Become Leader of the Opposition)
A special session of the new Lok Sabha is likely to be convened from June 2.
Former union minister Sumitra Mahajan, the 71-year-old BJP veteran who has been elected from Indore for the eighth time, is said to be leading the race to become the next Lok Sabha Speaker. Once elected, she will replace Meira Kumar, the Congress' most prominent Dalit face who lost the parliamentary election from Sasaram. (
Sumitra Mahajan Likely to be Lok Sabha Speaker: Sources)
Mr Nath, 67, has been elected to the Lok Sabha for the ninth term from Chindwara, a constituency that has come to be seen as his stronghold, and is among the senior-most lawmakers in terms of legislative experience. (
Also Read: Gandhis' Offer to Resign Rejected)
A close associate of former prime minister Indira Gandhi's younger son Sanjay, he was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980, the year in which the Congress was swept back to power after ousting the Janata Party government.