Shinde's smile helps break ice with opposition parties

Shinde, who got promoted as both home minister and leader of the lower house in parliament last week, was attending the meeting of party leaders in the Lok Sabha called by Speaker Meira Kumar when his smile came in for mention.

The Speaker had introduced Shinde as the leader of the house when BJP's Sushma Swaraj said that his perpetual smile was disarming.

Sushilkumar Shinde

Shinde, according to sources who were part of the meeting, blushed at receiving such a compliment from the leader of the opposition.

While addressing the house, Shinde thanked Swaraj for complimenting his smile and requested that the opposition should let his smile remain for the next two years of the UPA government.