8 May 2002

MANOHAR JOSHI IS NEW LOK SABHA SPEAKER

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Manohar Gajanan Joshi, the 1937-born Shiv Sena leader who has been a former Maharashtra Chief Minister and currently Union Heavy Industries Minister, will be the new Lok Sabha Speaker in place of GMC Balayogi of TDP who died in a helicopter crash in March.

The final choice of the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance fell on Joshi instead of picking up a BJP man for the post. He will be elected unopposed as the Government has secured an assurance from the Opposition parties not to contest for the seat. Nominations close Thursday noon for the Friday election which will not take place now.

Joshi is a law graduate and was a teacher before he plunged into active politics in 1972 to become a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. He became Mayor of Mumbai in 1976, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly in 1990-91, the Chief Minister from 1995-99 and entered the Lok Sabha from Mumbai North in 1999. He was born at Nandvi village in Raigad district but his education has been in Mumbai and he describes himself as a builder first and then educationist and industrialist.

Petroleum Minister Rambhau Naik, who is also from Mumbai but belongs to BJP, at one stage appeared all set to get the post alike the last time when eventually late Balayogi was picked up by the NDA as a compromise for TDP not joining the government but supporting only from outside. BJP spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the PM personally conveyed to Rambhau on Tuesday that he would like the Speaker's post to go to one of the allies instead of the BJP usurping it.

The Prime Minister decided to propose Joshi's name after consultations with Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi of Congress, leaders of Opposition parties including Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi party and leaders of NDA by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan on his behalf. Atal Bihari Vajpayee also personally spoke to TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu to get his consent for Joshi.

Last time, Balayogi had to be whisked away straight from the airport on his arrival from Hyderabad to beat the deadline of nominations but it will not be so as Joshi, who was in Mumbai, flew into Delhi Wednesday evening. He said he was happy to be a consensus candidate for the new assignment.

Sources close to the parliamentary Affairs Minister said the choice fell on Manohar Joshi as he has held the top posts both in the government and in the Opposition and is known for keeping his cool to handle any kind of controversial situation.

Following the carnage of Muslims in Gujarat and the BJP's refusal to remove Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the TDP had resolved not to put up its candidate for the post which was offered to it by the Prime Minister since it was already held by TDP.

Joshi is known for his contribution in improvement of life in India's financial capital of Mumbai that he initiated during his one-year tenure as Mayor and he has also written a book entitled 'Swachh Mumbai; Harit Mumbai' (Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai) to let his ideas bloom for ever.

During his Chief Ministership, he had started Kamdhenu Policy for women, 'Matoshri Vrudhashram Scheme' for the aged and Sainik Schools for the youth. He is also founder of Marathi Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Drama, hotel and building constructions and promotion of sports are his hobbies while he is also Vice-President of the Cricket Control Board of India and President of the Mumbai Cricket Association. END