New Delhi, 20/6: Seven-term MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, a former BJD leader who joined BJP before Lok Sabha elections, has been chosen as Protem Speaker of the Lok Sabha till a regular Speaker is elected, defying convention of choosing the senior most MP, Kodikkunnil Suresh of Congress, for the post.
However, eight term lawmaker Suresh along with four others – DMK’s TR Baalu, BJP’s Radha Mohan Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste and Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandyopadhyay – have been chosen to assist Mahtab in oath of MPs of the 18th Lok Sabha.