BJP's tribal leader from Jharkhand, Karia Munda, who was today unanimously elected Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, brings with him vast legislative experience that will come in handy in helping run the House.
73-year-old Munda, a seven-time MP, was a minister in the Morarji Desai government. A Central Working Committee member of BJP since 1980, he was made a Cabinet minister in the NDA regime headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But his several attempts to become the chief minister of Jharkhand did not succeed.
He has held portfolios of steel and mines, agro and rural industries and coal as a central minister.
Munda, who won the Lok Sabha elections recently from Khunti in Jharkhand, had started his political career as an MLA in the Bihar assembly and was also elected to the Jharkhand assembly for one term.
In 2000, supporters of Munda, who belongs to the ST community, had raised a banner of revolt demanding that he be made the chief minister. Though this wish was not fulfilled, Vajpayee inducted him in his government.
A post-graduate from Ranchi University, Munda commands respect as an educated and well-read person in Jharkhand. He has struggled against exploitation of tribals and social evils and campaigned for spread of education in his home state.