Sumitra Mahajan elected Speaker

• Unanimous election, all parties extend full support
• Modi puns on her name Sumitra, says everyone will see a friend in her
• Mahajan says she is yet to take a decision on LoP

New Delhi: Sumitra Mahajan became the second woman in a row to be unanimously elected to the high Constitutional office of Speaker, after Meira Kumar. An eight-time MP from Indore, Sumitra Mahajan rose from the ranks, from the level of municipal corporator and deputy mayor in Indore to Union HR minister under Vajpayee and now to Lok Sabha Speaker. Soon after the election, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan declared that she had not yet taken a call on whether or not to accord the status of Leader of Opposition to the Congress. “I will study past precedents and will arrive at a conclusion on the post of LoP,” she said.

Proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by NDA Working Chairman L K Advani, BJP president and Home Minister Rajnath Singh and leaders of all principal political parties, Sumitra Mahajan was declared elected unopposed by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.

Prime Minister Modi, Advani, Congress floor leader M Mallikarjun Kharge and AIADMK leader M Thambi Durai escorted Sumitra Mahajan, who was seated in the front row, to the Speaker’s podium. Leading the House in felicitating the newly-elected Speaker, Prime Minister Modi punned on her name, Sumitra, saying it suggests everyone will find in her a friend. “Our ancient texts also say Mahajaney yen gatah sa pantha (It is beneficial to walk on the path on which Mahajans walk), but in this case, you are there for us, seated on the Speaker’s Chair,” he remarked. He assured the Speaker on behalf of the entire House that she would receive full cooperation of all members in conducting the proceedings of the House successfully.

After the First Lok Sabha in 1952, Prime Minister Modi said, “This is the first time that there are 315 new members in the House. This means we can leave some old traditions behind and start some good new traditions, this new blood has the opportunity to present a strong democracy before the world.”

He said, “Indian Parliament is a temple of democracy and has the opportunity to present India to the world as a powerful democracy, with new energy.” Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in the race for the post of Leader of Opposition, recalled how in the previous Lok Sabha, he always found her sitting in the second row till the House adjourned for the day and conducted herself with dignity when she raised issues in the House. Congratulating her on behalf of the Congress and on his own personal behalf, he assured her full support in the smooth functioning of the House. All the floor leaders, who spoke, felicitated Speaker Mahajan and assured her of support in running the House.