First session of 15th Lok Sabha begins

NEW DELHI: As new members assembled to take oath on the opening day of the 15th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoped a "new beginning" would be made and Parliament would be allowed to run smoothly.

"I sincerely hope we will make a new beginning and that Parliament will be allowed to run smoothly... the dialogue... discussion, and reason will prevail in our proceedings and we will give all due respect to the opposition in discharging their responsibility," Singh told reporters before entering Parliament.

Senior most Lok Sabha member Manikrao Gavit of Congress appointed as Protem Speaker by President Pratibha Patil, presided over the proceedings involving Members taking oath.

A nine-term Member of Parliament, 75-year-old Gavit will perform the duties of the Speaker till the election of a new Speaker on June 3.

Gavit was administered oath by the President at a brief function at Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended among others by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Parliamentary Affairs minister P K Bansal.

Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee was the first to take oath. He was followed by Leader of Opposition L K Advani.