Bengaluru, 14 August

Congress on Friday secured both presiding posts in the Karnataka legislature, with its MLAs electing GS Patil as Assembly Speaker and MLC Saleem Ahmed as Legislative Council Chairman, amid an Opposition boycott in the Assembly and a keen contest in the Council.

Congress MLA Gurupadagouda Sanganagouda Patil, popularly known as GS Patil, was elected Speaker by voice vote. His name was proposed by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

BJP and JD(S) boycotted the election, protesting the Congress’ decision to name its nominee for the constitutional post on the party’s letterhead. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka had alleged that the move undermined the sovereignty of the House and set a “bad precedent”.

The letter from the Congress high command to Shivakumar on 3 August had named 19 ministers to be inducted into the Cabinet, besides party nominees for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman posts.

However, after Patil was elected, BJP and JD(S) members returned to the House. Ashoka joined Shivakumar in escorting the new Speaker to the Chair.

The post had fallen vacant after UT Khader resigned as Speaker ahead of his induction into the Council of Ministers on 3 June.

A four-time MLA from Ron in Gadag district, Patil belongs to the Lingayat community and has previously headed the Mineral Development Corporation and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd.

Patil said he would strive to ensure smooth proceedings while taking everyone along. He said he wanted to implement a paperless legislature through ‘e-Vidhana’ and continue training programmes for MLAs. He said the Speaker’s only party was the Constitution and that democracy’s success lay in respecting the Opposition’s voice.

In the Council, Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed defeated BJP nominee PH Pujar, securing 38 votes against 30. Pro-tem Chairman Puttanna declared Ahmed elected.

The election was necessitated by the resignation of Basavaraj Horatti as Chairman. Shivakumar defended the Congress’ decision, saying the high command had only recommended a party nominee and had not appointed the Speaker. He said the Opposition had taken a “political stand”.