Shinde to be new Leader of House in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has nominated Shinde to the post, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters here.

71-year-old Shinde is a senior Congress leader from Maharashtra who represents Solapur Lok Sabha constituency in the state. A dalit leader, he had served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and was member of the state assembly for seven terms.

Shinde, who was Power Minister, was shifted to Home Ministry on Tuesday. He had also been Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

"I am grateful to the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi for nominating me as Leader of the House," he told PTI.

Apparently his wide experience in four decades in politics and given his affable nature, the Congress leadership may have preferred him over others for the job that requires cooperation from Opposition in transacting business on the floor.

Under rules, the Prime Minister becomes the Leader of the House if he is a member of Lok Sabha. In other case, he nominates one of the members to be the leader. Singh is a member of Rajya Sabha and hence he leads the House there.

Ever since Mukherjee's shift to Rasthrapati Bhawan became imminent, there has been speculation as to who would become the new Leader of the House.