BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Pro Tem Speaker, Congress Says "Mistake"

Bhartruhari Mahtab, the BJP's key leader from Odisha said to be in the running for the Speaker's post, has been appointed Pro Tem Speaker by President Droupadi Murmu.

The post of Pro Tem Speaker – a temporary one -- traditionally goes to the seniormost member of parliament, who later administers oath to all the MPs and handles other responsibilities till a Speaker is appointed.

The 18th parliament will be convened on Monday.

The seven-time MP from Cuttack had moved to the BJP ahead of the election after years with Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal, expressing displeasure over the party's functioning.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X:

President is pleased to appoint Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member, Lok Sabha as Speaker Protem under Article 95(1) of the Constitution to perform the duties of Speaker till election of the Speaker.
President is also pleased to appoint Shri Suresh Kodikunnil, Shri Thalikkottai…

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 20, 2024

The Congress, which was expecting its senior MP K Suresh to be appointed to the post, was irked. Senior party leader Manickam Tagore called it the  "First mistake of the Parliamentary Affairs minister".

First mistake as Parliamentary Affairs Minister:
7-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab chosen as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress.
What are the minister's intentions? #BiasedDecisions #ProtemSpeaker https://t.co/HfFq20ZYo4

— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) June 20, 2024

The appointment of Mr Mahtab to the post deepens the mystery over the post of the Speaker, for which leaders from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were apparently being considered. The BJP has won thumping victories in the assembly elections in both states, and needs to reward its  state leaders.

The names of Mr Mahtab and D Purandeshwari, the chief of the BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit, were doing the rounds for the Speaker's post, which was also being eyed by allies Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar.

The BJP, party insiders have confided, is unwilling to pass on the post to the allies and the matter has not been settled despite long discussions on two consecutive days.   Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take a call on the issue before parliament convenes.

A face-off with the Opposition is likely over the post of the Deputy Speaker. Traditionally the Deputy is an Opposition appointee. But in case the government refuses to oblige, Opposition leaders, in private, have talked of pushing an election for the Speaker post – which would be a first.

The Speaker, who, among other things, has to arbitrate and mediate in the House between the government and the Opposition, is always appointed by consensus.