Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned politician from Odisha, has been a member of the Lok Sabha since 1998. He is the son of the late Harekrushna Mahatab, a two-time Chief Minister of Odisha. Initially a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Mahtab switched to the BJP in March 2024. He has been elected from the Cuttack constituency for seven terms. He was also appointed the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.