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Journalism of Courage
Barely two days after she assumed charge as Water Resources Minister in the new Government,Meira Kumar was picked by the Congress high command for the position of Lok Sabha Speaker.
As the Congress core committee,headed by Sonia Gandhi,met at the Prime Ministerï½s residence this evening,the initial favourite V Kishore Chandra Deo lost out to two women in the final round,the other being Girija Vyas.
Deo had earned a reputation for his diligence as the chairman of the Privileges Committee and won from Araku in Andhra Pradesh.
Party leaders felt that by naming a womanï½if elected,she will be the first woman in the Chair of the Houseï½and a Dalit for the post,they would send a powerful political message.
The Congress has included eight Dalits from within its ranks in the new ministryï½five in the Cabinet and three as Ministers of State,including one with independent charge.
The winner from Sasaram in this election,Meira,64,daughter of Jagjivan Ram,is a five-term MP and a former IFS officer. She was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Bijnaur (UP) and served the previous government as Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Once the core committee had decided on her,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and conveyed the Congress decision and asked him to ï½facilitateï½ Meira Kumarï½s election without a contest. He also offered the post of Deputy Speaker to the BJP. Sources said the BJP,which had handed the post to the Akali Dal last time,is unlikely to do a similar favour to an ally this time.
