Manohar Joshi set to equal Lalu record

Mumbai, Mar 17 (UNI) All set to get elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi will equal the record of being a member of four legislative houses in the country created by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

When declared elected on Monday, the last date of withdrawal of nominations, Mr Joshi will earn the distinction of having been a member of Maharahstra Legislative Council, the Assembly and subequently a member of the Lok Sabha. Mr Prasad, before being elected to the lower house of Parliament, had been a member of Bihar Legislative Council, then the Assembly and subsequently a member of Rajya Sabha for a brief period.

Mr Joshi, who started his political career in 1968 with Shiv Sena and became a corporator, was first elected to the state Legislative Council in 1972. He held three terms in the Council during which he had also held the office of the city Mayor.

He was elected to the state Assembly in 1990 from Dadar and became leader of the Opposition. Re-elected to the Vidhan Sabha in 1995, Mr Joshi became the Sena's first Chief Minister in Maharashtra.

In 1999, he was elected to Lok Sabha from North-Central Mumbai and became Minister for Heavy Industries and subsequently the Lok Sabha Speaker during the NDA government at the Centre.

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