"Big responsibility, no one was pro-tem Speaker from Odisha earlier": BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab on appointment

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 21 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bhartruhari Mahtab after being appointed Speaker pro-tem called it a big responsibility adding that no one from Odisha held the office earlier.
"I am happy I have been appointed the new pro tem Speaker. It is a big responsibility. I am happy and proud to get this responsibility. No one was a pro tem Speaker from Odisha earlier," Mahtab told ANI on Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Mahtab as pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
"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 the election of the Speaker," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X.
However, this appointment invited criticism from the Congress party saying that as per convention the longest serving MP is made Speaker pro-tem and the party's MP Kodikunnil Suresh qualified for the position.
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. (ANI)