Bhartruhari Mahtab Appointed Pro Tem Speaker of Lok Sabha

In a notable development, Bhartruhari Mahtab, a veteran seven-term Lok Sabha member, has been named the pro tem Speaker of the Lower House. The announcement was made on Thursday by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.As the pro tem Speaker, Mahtab will preside over the initial meeting of the Lower House following the general elections. He will also oversee the session during which the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected in a newly constituted House.Mahtab’s appointment follows the BJP’s remarkable electoral success in Odisha. A seasoned politician, Mahtab switched from the BJD to the BJP before the elections, significantly contributing to the BJP’s victory in the state.Son of former Odisha Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab, Bhartruhari Mahtab had been a key figure in Naveen Patnaik’s BJD until March 2024, when he resigned due to decreased party activity and joined the BJP. With a political career spanning over two decades, Mahtab has represented the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat since 1998.