Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday congratulated Meira Kumar on her election as Speaker of the 15th Lok Sabha.
Reddy in a message said "this is a historic occasion when for the first time a woman, that too a Dalit woman, has been elected as Speaker of the Lok Sabha".
Kumar, elected from Sasaram in Bihar in the recent elections, is the daughter of the late Jagjivan Ram.
The chief minister lauded Meira Kumar for her unanimous election as Speaker and said her rich experience as a diplomat, Parliamentarian and Union Minister of long standing would stand in good stead in the discharge of her functions as the Lok Sabha Speaker.
He also thanked the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and all members of the Lok Sabha for enabling Meira Kumar's election as Speaker.