Meira Kumar as speaker impresses opposition MPs

October 11th, 2009 PATNA - Two policemen were seriously injured when an escort vehicle of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar hit a truck Sunday in Bihar. Five others were also injured but the speaker is safe, police said.

September 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian parliament's sittings should be increased to 110 days a year, Speaker Meira Kumar said Saturday. "We should increase the number of sittings (of parliament) to 110 days," the speaker told reporters here, adding that "disruption of the house proceedings is a major concern for everybody".

August 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Friday greeted fellow citizens on the eve of the Independence Day and urged them to rededicate themselves to promote an inclusive society. In her message, the first woman speaker said the day reminds people of the supreme sacrifices made by the national leaders during the freedom struggle.

August 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday celebrated Raksha Bandhan, a festival that marks the bond of love between siblings, with a group of mentally challenged, and hearing and speech impaired children here Wednesday. "The feeling of brotherly love and affection should flourish all around, especially among children," the speaker said while celebrating the festival with children from the Aastha Special School in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, at her official residence here.

July 4th, 2009 BHOPAL - Expressing concern over the decline in polling percentage, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Saturday called upon lawmakers to introspect why people were losing interest in the poll process. Inaugurating a two-day orientation programme for Madhya Pradesh legislators, Meira Kumar said legislature was the most powerful body and the lawmakers should use their powers for the welfare of the common man.

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar paid floral tribute at the memorials of various prominent leaders here on Saturday. Starting with Rajghat, the memorial to the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, she also paid a visit to the memorials of her father, Jagjivan Ram and Indira Gandhi.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - After being unanimously chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar reiterated on Wednesday that she would be impartial in executing her tasks as the presiding officer of the lower house of the parliament. "It would be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I will give opportunity to all the members to express their views.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The first ruling from Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, came when two Yadav leaders from her home state of Bihar exchanged heated arguments in the house. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad was making a speech to congratulate Meira Kumar when Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav opposed some of his remarks, leading to a heated discussion between the two that forced the speaker to issue a directive to reporters to expunge the arguments.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, the first woman speaker of the Lok Sabha, Wednesday said she would be impartial and give equal opportunity to all members to express their views. "It will be my endeavour that I am completely impartial in my conduct and I give opportunity to all the members to express their views," Meira Kumar said, addressing her first press conference after being elected speaker of the lower house of parliament.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who was elected the first woman speaker of India Wednesday, exhorted Lok Sabha MPs to put the elections behind them and address the social and economic problems facing the country. Speaking in the Lok Sabha after being elected to the coveted post, Meira Kumar, a five-time MP, said: The world is passing through its worst-ever recession and India is not separated from it.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress leader Meira Kumar Tuesday filed her nomination for the post of Lok Sabha speaker. Her nomination, proposed by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress in the house Pranab Mukherjee, leader of opposition L.K.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering either a Muslim or a tribal MP for the Lok Sabha deputy speaker's post, which by tradition is offered to the opposition. Reliable party sources disclosed to IANS that the name of former minister and the BJP's minority cell chief Shahnawaz Hussain and of Karia Munda, tribal MP from Jharkhand, were being discussed for the post.

June 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Meira Kumar, who is set to take over as India's first woman Lok Sabha speaker, Monday expertly dodged persistent queries from waiting media persons, saying with a smile: "Wait till June 3" - the day of election for the post. Meira Kumar, 64, quit as cabinet minister for water resources Sunday.

May 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Water Resource Minister and Congress leader Meira Kumar called on Congress party President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday afternoon. The meet, which was held at 10, Janpath, Sonia Gandhi's residence, gave strength to speculations about her getting a nomination of Congress Party for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.

May 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress Party is likely to finalise the name of Union Water Resource Minister Meira Kumar for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, NDTV quoted sources as saying. However, another TV Channel stated the names of Congress leader Girija Kumar Vyas and Meira Kumar was doing the rounds till late evening.