Odisha’s 7-Time Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Pro Tem Lok Sabha Speaker

New Delhi: Bhartruhari Mahtab, senior BJP leader from Odisha, has been appointed Pro Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu.

The 66-year-old Mahtab is a seven-time Lok Sabha MP from Cuttack constituency.

He was elected MP in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 while representing Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Before the 2024 elections, Mahtab joined BJP and won by a margin of just over 57,000 votes against BJD rival Santrupt Misra,

“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 Rajuthevar Baalu, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste and Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Members of Lok Sabha under Article 99 of the Constitution to assist Speaker Protem in Oath/Affirmation to newly elected Members of 18th Lok Sabha till election of the Speaker,” Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju shared on X.

Pro Tem Speaker – a temporary post — traditionally goes to the seniormost Member of Parliament, who later administers oath to the Prime Minister’s Council of ministers and other MPs, till a Speaker is appointed.

The 18th Parliament will be convened on June 24.