BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed pro tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
In response to the criticism, the BJP slammed the Congress for politicising the appointment of Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker.
Instead, a 7-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker pro tem.
He was a BJD MP for 6 terms and is now a BJP MP,” Jairam Ramesh said.
The BJP, in response, said the Congress should "relax" as the party had lost the Lok Sabha elections.
BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed pro tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The choice of the seven-term Cuttack MP, who was formerly with Naveen Patnaik’s BJD before switching to the BJP ahead of the polls, has sparked a political row.
The Congress has targeted the ruling government for not following the largely established convention of appointing the seniormost member to the post. In response to the criticism, the BJP slammed the Congress for politicising the appointment of Lok Sabha pro tem Speaker.
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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “By convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker pro tem for the first two days when oath is administered to all newly elected MPs.”
"The senior most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their 8th term. The latter is now a Union Minister and hence it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be the Speaker Protem. Instead, a 7-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker pro tem. He was a BJD MP for 6 terms and is now a BJP MP,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Congress leader K C Venugopal accused the BJP-led government of attempting to “destroy parliamentary norms”.
"In yet another attempt at destroying parliamentary norms, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-term MP, has been appointed the pro-tem Speaker, superseding Kodikunnil Suresh, who will be entering his eighth term," K C Venugopal said in a post on X.
The BJP, in response, said the Congress should "relax" as the party had lost the Lok Sabha elections.
"You have just lost an election. Relax. Reflect on third consecutive defeat, instead of whining about everything," BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju asserted that conventions were followed in selecting BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab who has the longest uninterrupted tenure as a member of the Lower House.
He accused the Congress leaders of "spreading lies" and making "misleading statements".
"We expected the Parliament proceedings to start on a good note. But, even before the start of the first session of the Parliament, Congress resorted to spreading lies and misleading everyone through social media posts," Rijiju said.
Published By: Anuja Jha Published On: Jun 21, 2024
