‘Sangh Parivar’s upper caste politics…’: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams Modi govt over pro-tem Speaker appointment

President Droupadi Murmu made the appointment on Thursday. While Mahtab is a seven-time MP, Suresh has been MP eight times. A Dalit, Suresh is the most senior Congress leader in Kerala.

In his statement, Vijayan said the appointment violated parliamentary norms and that convention demands that Mavelikkara MP Suresh, as the longest serving Lok Sabha member, should be appointed to the position.

“The Union Government should make clear why Mavelikkara MP Kodikunnil Suresh (Congress) was neglected in the appointment despite him being the longest serving member of the House. Has BJP got an answer to those who suspect that Sangh Parivar’s upper caste politics had worked behind this decision,” Vijayan said.

By making the appointment, the BJP had shown an “arrogant disregard” towards parliamentary democratic norms and precedents.

He also pointed out that the post of deputy speaker — which conventionally goes to the Opposition — had been deliberately kept vacant throughout the 17th Lok Sabha.

“It shows that the BJP will not accept anyone in the Opposition. It can be seen only as a challenge to Indian democracy,” the chief minister said.

Objecting to Mahtab’s appointment the same day, All India Congress Committee general secretary and that party’s communications in charge Jairam Ramesh said that “by convention, the MP who has served the maximum terms is appointed Speaker pro-tem for the first two days when oath is administered to all newly elected MPs”.

“The senior-most MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are Kodikunnil Suresh (INC) and Virendra Kumar (BJP), both of who are now serving their 8th term. The latter is now a Union Minister and hence it was expected that Kodikunnil Suresh would be the Speaker pro-tem. Instead, a seven-term MP, Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed Speaker pro-tem,” said Ramesh.