NEW DELHI, June 6 � Veteran BJP leader Sumitra Mahajan, a battle-hardened leader who has risen from the ranks, was today unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha, becoming the second woman to occupy the prestigious position after her predecessor Meira Kumar, reports PTI.
Mahajan (71), the longest-serving woman MP, was elected after adoption of a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by BJP veteran LK Advani by voice vote called by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.
Altogether 13 similar motions were proposed and seconded by several parties in the ruling NDA as also in the opposition.
Mahajan was led to the Speaker�s Chair by the Prime Minister, Advani, Anant Geete, M Thambidurai as also a number of Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sudip Bandyopadhyay, besides Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
Accepting the post graciously, Mahajan said the new assignment was a challenging one and that she would try to do justice with all without letting down any Member.
