M Thambidurai, leader of AIADMK in Parliament, was unanimously elected as lok Sabha’s Deputy Speaker on Wednesday, making him the first leader to occupy the post twice. The 67-year-old AIADMK leader was elected to the post after a motion, moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj supporting him, was carried by voice vote amid thumping of desks from all sides.
Thambidurai was Deputy Speaker from 1985 to 1989. A five-term member, Thambidurai represents Karur constituency in Tamil Nadu and his party is the second largest party with 37 MPs in the Opposition after Congress.Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Thambidurai as a “multi-faceted personality” and thanked all parties, especially those in the Opposition, to have made his unanimous election possible. Modi said Thambidurai was not only an academician, but an activist and an agriculturist also and his rich parliamentary experience would guide the House on the correct path.
Thambidurai thanked the AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and the Prime Minister for the responsibility reposed on him.