In a historical development for the Indian American political experience in the US, state lawmaker Kumar P Barve has been appointed House Majority Leader in the Maryland House of Delegates. He will replace Maggie L McIntosh.

Barve's appointment, announced by the newly elected Democratic House Speaker Michael E Busch on December 9, would make Barve, 44, the number two in the Maryland legislature. Although, technically he will follow Speaker pro tem, African American Adrienne Jones from Baltimore County, in the state assembly hierarchy.

Barve was elected to serve a fourth term as representative of the 17th District seat in the Maryland House last month.

A statement issued by Busch's office said: "Delegate Barve has served 12 years in the House and has been a leader in technology development issues in Maryland in addition to having served as the chairman of the Montgomery County Delegation for the last eight years."

In an interview with rediff.com, Barve said: "I feel great. I am now in senior leadership. The majority leader is especially important now that there's a Republican governor for the first time in 36 years in Maryland. I am going to be standing up on the floor of the House and speaking on behalf of the Democratic majority."

In a major victory, Robert Ehrlich Jr on November 5 defeated Maryland's Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend -- a scion of the Kennedy dynasty -- in the gubernatorial race to occupy the governor's mansion in Annapolis, Maryland and succeed Democratic Governor Parris Glendening.

Barve said: "This is very exciting. It's a major challenge for me. It means, I am going to be the guy the Speaker goes to to get things done."

Barve, the elder statesman of Indian American lawmakers, has now been in office longer than the first and only Indian American US Congressman, Dalip Singh Saund, who won a House seat in 1952 from California and served two terms.

A day before November 5, The Washington Post in strongly endorsing Barve, described him as "a nimble and knowledgeable leader," and on September 8, endorsing him for the primaries, said, "Kumar P Barve is chairman of the Montgomery (County) delegation for good reason: he has shepherded progressive legislation with intelligence and skill."

Earlier, on August 28, The Montgomery Gazette argued, "It is clear that incumbent Kumar Barve should be re-elected. As the Montgomery County delegation leader, Barve has been effective in forming a strong, united delegation.With three terms under his belt, he knows the issues and the workings of Annapolis."