Presidential polls 2017: All you want to know about opposition's nominee Meira Kumar
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Personal life
Meira Kumar, born in Bihar's Arrah district, is the daughter of prominent Dalit leader and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram, and freedom fighter, Indrani Devi.
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Education
Kumar is a law graduate and holds a Master's degree in English literature.
In 1973, she qualified Indian Foreign Services and served at embassies in Mauritius, Spain and United Kingdom. She can also speak Spanish.
In 1973, she qualified Indian Foreign Services and served at embassies in Mauritius, Spain and United Kingdom. She can also speak Spanish.
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Politics
After quitting from foreign services in 1985, she decided to peruse her career in politics.
In her first contest from Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, Kumar defeated political heavyweights such as Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati.
Both Vilas and Mayawati are also dalit leaders.
In her first contest from Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, Kumar defeated political heavyweights such as Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati.
Both Vilas and Mayawati are also dalit leaders.
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Lok Sabha
Kumar was member of the eighth, eleventh and twelfth Lok Sabhas from Karol Bagh in Delhi.
Though she lost her seat in 1999, but eventually got re-elected from her father's former constituency of Bihar's Sasaram in 2004 and 2009.
Though she lost her seat in 1999, but eventually got re-elected from her father's former constituency of Bihar's Sasaram in 2004 and 2009.
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First woman speaker
From 2009 to 2014, Kumar served as Lok Sabha Speaker, thereby becoming the first woman speaker of the country.
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'Two time Union Minister'
In 2004, Kumar was appointed as Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment under the leadership of then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
And in 2009, she was inducted into the cabinet as Union Minister for Water Resources.
Text: TOI.com
And in 2009, she was inducted into the cabinet as Union Minister for Water Resources.
Text: TOI.com