The Lok Sabha will soon choose a new Speaker. Given the fact that there is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government in power, with the ruling party just shy of a majority on its own, the choice of the Speaker has drawn considerable attention. The office has been the focus of attention especially when … Read more
The scorching heat has somewhat abated, but monsoon clouds remain far from New Delhi. Stormy conditions are clearly discernible as the 18th Lok Sabha begins its session on June 24. Never before has the appointment of a Speaker Pro-tem, a conventional post replicated from the Westminster system, generated such controversy. The Opposition’s objection to the … Read more
Lok Sabha Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab is the son of Odisha’s first chief minister. Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seven-time Member of Parliament, was sworn in as pro-tem Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha today. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Cuttack. However, the Opposition slammed the Centre for Mr … Read more
As the row over the appointment of the new Speaker Protem, Opposition sources reportedly said on Saturday that Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu and Sudip Bandyopadhyay may not join the panel of chairpersons to assist Speaker Protem Bhartruhari Mahtab in administering the oath to the newly elected members of the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the India … Read more
Seven-term parliamentarian and BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab was on June 20 appointed pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha, deviating from the largely followed convention of appointing the senior most member of the House to the post, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition Congress. The primary job of the pro-tem Speaker is to administer the oath … Read more
Kiren Rijiju, the former Law Minister, is Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Modi 3.0 cabinet (File). New Delhi: The BJP and the Congress have gone to the mattresses, again. This time the two are fighting over the appointment of BJP leader and seven-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro Tem Speaker, a post active only for … Read more