Shinde debuts as leader of Lok Sabha

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Wednesday debuted as the new leader of the Lok Sabha and was introduced to the house by Speaker Meira Kumar.

Shinde, dressed in his usual grey safari suit, was seated between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the first row of the treasury benches.

The seat was earlier occupied by Pranab Mukherjee, as the then leader of the house, before he got elected as president.

Shinde got up from his seat on being introduced and greeted the house with folded hand. He was welcomed by the members with thumping of their desks.