Who among the following was the first pro-tem Speaker to be unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

Somnath Chatterjee was the first pro-tem Speaker to be unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Following the 2004 General Elections for the 14th Lok Sabha, Chatterjee was appointed as the pro-tem Speaker by the President to administer oaths to the newly elected members [1]. Subsequently, he was elected unanimously to the office of the Speaker. While G.V. Mavalankar also served as a pro-tem Speaker before becoming the permanent Speaker of the first Lok Sabha, Chatterjee's unanimous election as a veteran parliamentarian is a significant historical milestone. Other figures like Rabi Ray were also elected unanimously as Speaker in 1989, but they did not serve as the pro-tem Speaker immediately preceding their election to the chair. Somnath Chatterjee's tenure is noted for his commitment to parliamentary traditions and his role as a fearless voice in the House.

Sources

1. [1] https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/peoples-speaker/article24800703.ece