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India elects first woman Speaker India elects first woman Speaker
(about 6 hours later)
India's parliament has elected its first woman Speaker after a sweeping victory for the Congress party in recent general elections.India's parliament has elected its first woman Speaker after a sweeping victory for the Congress party in recent general elections.
Meira Kumar, 64, was elected unopposed by a voice vote in parliament. She belongs to the low-caste Dalit - formerly untouchable - community. Congress veteran Meira Kumar, 64, a former lawyer and diplomat, was elected unopposed to cheers from MPs.
She had been sworn in as a cabinet minister, but resigned on Sunday after Congress offered her the Speaker's job. Ms Kumar, who is from the low-caste Dalit (formerly untouchable) community, called her appointment "historic".
Parliament's newly-elected lower house began its first session on Monday. Observers say her election improves the Congress party's image as pro-women and a supporter of the lower castes.
As soon as the Lok Sabha [lower house of parliament] met on Wednesday, Congress party president Sonia Gandhi proposed Ms Kumar as the Speaker of the new house. PM's tribute
Leader of opposition LK Advani [of the Bharatiya Janata Party] and other political leaders seconded her name. Ms Kumar, who has been elected to parliament five times, holds a seat in the impoverished state of Bihar.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr Advani then accompanied her to the Speaker's chair to complete the formality. I will try and maintain decorum in the house and give a fair chance to all members Speaker Meira Kumar class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/8063285.stm">India's key new ministers
'Historic' She is the daughter of the late Babu Jagjivan Ram, a prominent Dalit leader and former deputy prime minister of India.
Ms Kumar, who has been elected to parliament five times, is the daughter of the late Babu Jagjivan Ram, a prominent Dalit leader and former deputy prime minister of India. "I consider myself greatly honoured for this rare and historic opportunity, which I have been given. It will be my endeavour to run the house well," Ms Kumar told reporters before her election.
She has described her nomination as "a rare historic opportunity". After the vote, Prime Minister Singh said: "For the first time a woman member has been elected Speaker - and that too a woman from the Dalit community.
"Historic because a woman has been considered for this very important and august position," she told reporters. "In electing you... we members of parliament pay tribute to the women of our country and the great contribution that they have made."
Ms Kumar was earlier sworn in as a minister and given charge of the water resources ministry. Ms Kumar emerged as a consensus candidate for the post of Speaker, with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties also supporting her.
As soon as the newly-elected lower house, or Lok Sabha, met on Wednesday, Congress party president Sonia Gandhi proposed Ms Kumar as Speaker.
BJP leader LK Advani and other political leaders seconded her name. Prime Minister Singh and Mr Advani then accompanied her to the Speaker's chair to complete formalities.
Ms Kumar had been sworn in as a cabinet minister and was to have been in charge of water resources, but resigned on Sunday after being offered the Speaker's job.
'Pro-women'
Analysts say naming her as Speaker works to the advantage of the Congress as it helps the party position itself as pro-women.Analysts say naming her as Speaker works to the advantage of the Congress as it helps the party position itself as pro-women.
It also projects Congress as a party which is concerned about the welfare of the low-caste Dalits who have faced discrimination from upper-caste Hindus for centuries. It also projects Congress as a party which is concerned about the welfare of the lower castes who have faced discrimination from upper-caste Hindus for centuries.
Ms Kumar joins other women and members of minorities in positions of power in India.
The posts of president and leader of the country's governing Congress party are both held by women - by Pratibha Patil and Sonia Gandhi respectively.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is himself from the Sikh minority, while the new deputy Speaker, Karia Munda, is a member of a tribal community.