"Through convention, not law": BJP justifies pro-tem Speaker selection in Lok Sabha

New Delhi [India], June 23 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra on Sunday defended the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu and said that the decision was made according to established convention rather than law.
BJP leader Sambit Patra's remark came in response to Congress's objections, which he argues are disrupting a long-standing process.
Speaking on the subject on Sunday, Patra said, "The President of India recommends the pro-tem speaker through Article 95 of the Constitution of India. It is a long convention that has been going on in this beautiful democracy of India since independence. Now, Congress is trying to disturb this process."
"Bhartruhari Mahtab is serving as an MP consecutively for the seventh time. The convention says that the MP with the longest period of unbroken service can be appointed as pro-tem Speaker. So, in this 18th Lok Sabha, Bhartruhari Mahtab qualifies to become the pro-tem Speaker," he said.
Adding further, he said, "As far as Congress MP, K Suresh is concerned, he has served as an MP 8 times non-consecutively. It is the 4th consecutive term of K Suresh. However, it is the 7th consecutive term of Bhartruhari Mahtab. So, there has been no breach of convention."
Earlier on Friday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the appointment of BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, has been done as per the "rules," adding that Congress should not politicise the issue.
Congress reacted sharply to the central government's decision to appoint seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Pro-tem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress, saying that the appointment by the BJP deviates from the traditional practice of appointing the senior member.
The pro-tem Speaker administers the oath to newly elected members and oversees the proceedings of the House until the permanent Speaker is elected.
"We all want the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha to run peacefully. This is also the wish of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a special session. There is no business transaction in this special session," Rijiju said.
Earlier on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu had appointed BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
President Murmu also appointed Suresh Kodikunnil, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Radha Mohan Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Sudip Bandyopadhyay to assist the Speaker Protem in the oath-taking of the newly-elected members.
After the announcement, the Congress objected to the government's decision, saying that the longest-serving MP is made pro tem Speaker, but as per convention party MP Kodikunnil Suresh should have been given the role as he is entering his eighth term as parliamentarian.
Congress leader KC Venugopal said the government should explain why it overlooked K Suresh.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also reacted sharply to the central government's decision to appoint seven-term BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab as Protem Speaker of Lok Sabha over senior-most Dalit MP Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress and said that the decision was a mistake on the part of the government.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari targeted the BJP, arguing that it amounts to insulting the entire House and democracy.
As per Article 94 of the Constitution, the office of the Speaker becomes vacant immediately before the first meeting of the new Lok Sabha. In that case, the duties of the Speaker are to be performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as Speaker pro tem.
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will start on June 24. The Rajya Sabha session will begin on June 27.