Thiruvananthapuram: Eight-term Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh claimed on Friday that as the senior-most Lok Sabha member, he should have been made the pro-tem Speaker according to conventions. This move of the ruling party indicates that the "BJP will continue to bypass parliamentary procedures as it did the last two times", he said.

The issue was raised by Suresh a day after seven-term parliamentarian and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bhartruhari Mahtab was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

"This decision amounts to threatening parliamentary democracy in the country. It indicates that the BJP will continue to bypass parliamentary procedures or use them for its own interests, as it did the last two times," he contended while speaking to the media.

Suresh also mentioned that the decision highlights that the BJP will continue to disrespect the opposition, deprive it of opportunities, and not give it the recognition it deserves, as they did last two times when they were in power.

He clarified that, as per the largely followed past conventions, the Lok Sabha member who has been an MP for the most number of times is made the pro-tem Speaker, "this convention was followed in the past when the Congress, United Progressive Alliance (UPA), BJP, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were in power.

Last time, Maneka Gandhi, who was an eight-term MP, was eligible to be the pro-tem Speaker, but she was not interested as she was not made a Union minister, Suresh claimed.

"After her, the senior most MPs were myself and BJP's Veerendra Kumar. But, Kumar was chosen to be the Pro-tem Speaker. This time too, Kumar and I were the senior most MPs. He was made a cabinet minister and therefore, automatically, as per LS rules, procedures, and conventions, I should have been made pro-tem Speaker.

"My name was recommended by the LS secretariat. But when the Centre sent its recommendation to the President, my name was avoided," he claimed.

The Centre's decision had drawn sharp criticism from the Congress on Thursday.

The pro-tem Speaker will administer the oath/affirmation to the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha and preside over the Lower House until the Speaker is elected. The practice of appointing the senior most member as the pro-tem Speaker was not followed in 1956 when Sardar Hukam Singh was appointed to the post, even in 1977, D N Tiwari was appointed but was not the senior most member of the House.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on June 24. The newly elected members will take oath/affirmation on June 24-25.

The election of the Speaker is scheduled to take place on June 26. PTI