New Delhi:  Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahatab has been nominated as the ‘Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2017. He will receive the coveted title for his debating skill, in-dept knowledge of issues and experience.

Mehtab has elected five times to the Lok Sabha. Son of the former chief minister of Odisha HK Mehtab has won Lok Sabha elections in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress senior leader Gulam Nabi Azad and Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi would get the Award for 2015 and 2016 respectively, the Lok Sabha secretariat said in a press release, here on Monday. Lok Sabha Lok Sabha member Hukumdev Narayan Yadav and former Rajya Sabha member Najma Heptulla will get the award for 2014 and  2013 respectively.

The award is being conferred by the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG),  a 24-member autonomous body of the current and former MPs of both houses which headed by the Speaker.

A committee headed by Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan shortlisted the names of the members for the Awards. Home minister Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader L K Advani, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha P J Kurien, Congress leader Karan Singh and Ram Bhadur Rai, head of the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts are other members of the committee.