After weeks of speculation regarding who would become the pro tem speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh, Dr Virendra Kumar, has been appointed to the post. Sumitra Mahajan was the former Speaker and her term concluded with the end of the 16th Lok Sabha.
Reports of senior BJP leader Maneka Gandhi assuming office as the pro tem speaker had been making the rounds since the Lok Sabha elections’ verdict was announced.
News agency PTI even quoted sources in the camp saying Gandhi had been selected to become the pro tem speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.
The main duty of the pro tem speaker is to administer the oath of office to new members of the Lok Sabha. Dr Kumar, as the interim speaker, will administer the oath to newly elected Lok Sabha members and also preside over the first Lok Sabha meeting, where the new Speaker will be elected.
President Ram Nath Kovind will also address the joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament in Central Hall at 11 am on 20 June, an NDTV report said.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI and NDTV)
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