BJP MP Dr Virendra Kumar Khatik to be Protem Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha

Tikamgarh BJP MP Virendra Kumar Khatik, Minister of State for Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs will be the protem speaker of the new Lok Sabha, reported ANI news agency. As the temporary speaker, Khatik will administer the oath to newly elected MPs and preside over the sitting of the Lok Sabha to elect as its permanent speaker.

Khatik is the seven-time MP, who currently represents the Tikamgarh constituency in Madhya Pradesh. From 1996 to 2009, he used to be the parliamentarian from Sagar Lok Sabha seat in the central Indian state. Earlier, there were reports that former women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi could be appointed as the protem speake.

Maneka, a seven time MP and the senior most member of the lower house of Parliament after Santosh Kumar Gangwar, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from his son Varun Gandhi's seat Sultanpur. This time, the BJP dumped her form the Cabinet and was not given any ministerial birth.

Besides all this, Maneka is also an animal rights activist, environmentalist, and the widow of indian politician Sanjay Gandhim the son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The monsoon session of 17th Lok Sabha is likely to be held in the first week of June when newly elected MPs will take oath as the member of parliament.