Bhubaneswar, June 21: 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.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will start on June 24. The Rajya Sabha session will begin on June 27.

(ANI)

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