Meira Kumar [ Images ] today made history in the Lok Sabha when she was unanimously elected its Speaker and thus became the first woman to occupy one of the high Constitutional posts.
64-year-old Kumar, Congress' dalit face, a former foreign service official and Union Minister, was elected after a resolution moved by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi [ Images ] and seconded by Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee [ Images ] was approved by a voice vote amidst thumping of deks by the entire House.
Kumar, elected from Sasaram in Bihar in the recent elections, is the daughter of the late Jagjivan Ram [ Images ].
Ealier, leaders cutting across the political spectrum, including L K Advani [ Images ] (BJP, Mamata Banerjee [ Images ] (Trinamool Congress [ Images ]), T R Baalu (DMK), Arjun Charan Sethi BJD), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Mulayam Singh Yadav [ Images ] (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD), Ram Sundar Das (JD-U), Sharad Pawar [ Images ] (NCP), Farooq Abdullah [ Images ] (NC) and E Ahmed (Muslim League) also tabled their motions
proposing Kumar for the post.
After Sonia's motion was approved by a voice vote, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ], Mukherjee and Advani escorted Kumar, who was sitting in the front benches, to the Speaker's Chair.
After Kumar took the Chair, Singh hailed her election as a historic moment and said her services as a distinguished diplomat, 25 years in Parliament and her role as a Minister would stand her in good stead to execute her onerous job well.
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