New Delhi, Jun 2 : It will be a record of sorts when Meira Kumar becomes the first woman Speaker, as both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will have Presiding Officers formerly belonging to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari is a career diplomat and belonged to the 1961 IFS cadre. Ms. Kumar, of 1973 batch, had resigned her IFS job to join politics.
Ms. Kumar, set to be the next Lok Sabha Speaker, will be creating history by becoming the first Dalit woman leader to occupy the coveted post.
Unlike 'Mr Speaker Sir' as the Chair was till now addressed in the Lower House, the new presiding officer -- the daughter of veteran leader and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram -- will be called 'Madam Speaker'.