On my election on 4 June, 2004, it was emphasized by leaders of different political parties in Lok Sabha that I had been nominated and supported by all parties and that I was indeed the unanimous choice as the Speaker of the House.

Thus my election to the high office of the Speaker was not only uncontested but was unanimous as all political parties proposed my name. On the date of my election on 4 June, 2004 in answer to the kind observations made by the leaders of different political parties, I had observed as follows:

“I shall discharge my functions entrusted to this office more as a duty rather than as an authority. The non-party character of the office of the Speaker in our parliamentary polity places on me a special obligation to be totally non-partisan and judicious while regulating the proceedings of the House. So long as I occupy this exalted Chair, I assure you that I shall always strive to protect to the best of my ability the rights and privileges of the House and of its Members irrespective of their political affiliations” (which I have always sincerely tried to do)

“Hon’ble Members, I can assure you that to me, all the Hon’ble Members are of the same status and are entitled to the same facilities, irrespective of the party to which one may belong, and will be entitled to the same opportunity. The only status that I recognize is that all of you are elected as Hon’ble Members of this great institution.”

... contd.