Lok Sabha: 'Pro tem speaker has never been an issue even in history', said Rijiju before the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is starting from today. President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath of pro tem speaker to Bhartrihari Mahtab at Rashtrapati Bhavan before the proceedings of the House began today. Seven-time MP Bhartrihari Mahtab has been entrusted with the task of running the proceedings of the Lok Sabha on Monday and Tuesday along with a panel of speakers. They will administer the oath to the members of the 18th Lok Sabha. He will preside over the House during the election of the new Speaker on Wednesday. Let us tell you that President Murmu appointed a panel of speakers along with Mahtab on June 20.

Kiren Rijiju said, "I have met all the leaders. Everyone agrees that the pro tem speaker has never been an issue in the history of the Indian Parliament and the appointment of the pro tem speaker is basically to administer the oath to the newly elected members and help in the election of the new Speaker."

On Monday, Kiren Rijiju said that he is positively expecting coordination to run the Parliament. He posted on the social media platform X that he will always be available to help the members of Parliament as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Rijiju said the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is starting from today. I welcome all the newly elected honorable members. I am hoping for coordination to run the House positively.

Opposition's dispute over Protem Speaker

Let us tell you that the opposition is constantly targeting the BJP regarding the Protem Speaker. Citing traditions, the opposition is demanding the post of Deputy Speaker to be given to the largest opposition party Congress. The opposition is adamant on the demand to make K. Suresh the Protem. On this, Kiren Rijiju said that Mahtab has won the election seven times in a row while K. Suresh has lost two elections in 1998 and 2004. In such a situation, his record is of winning four consecutive elections. On the other hand, the opposition says that K. Suresh has won the election eight times. Mahtab first won the Lok Sabha election in 1998 while Suresh has been a Lok Sabha member since 1989. Losing two elections does not change the fact that he has been an MP eight times, one term more than Mahtab.