Still 'Speaker sir'

CPI(M) veteran Basudeb Acharia, a nine-term MP from West Bengal, has been in the Lok Sabha since 1980 and is only used to addressing the Speaker as “Sir”. On Wednesday, after Meira Kumar was elected the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Acharia took some time to adjust himself to the change. Taking part in the motion of thanks for the newly elected Speaker, Acharia addressed Meira Kumar as “Sir” at least thrice despite reminders from his colleagues. Finally, Acharia made the correction and towards the end of the speech managed the right “Madam Speaker.”