Karnataka Assembly Speaker: Former Minister and Congress MLA UT Khadar is likely to become the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly. According to sources, the high command managed to convince Khader for the role. Khadar filed his nomination for the post of Karnataka Assembly Speaker on Tuesday (May 23).
His candidature can be formalized during the Congress Legislature Party meeting to be held on May 24. If Khader is unanimously appointed, as per tradition, he will become the first Muslim leader to serve as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Five-time MLA
Born on October 1, 1969, UT Khadar comes from communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada. He is a soft-spoken politician, he has neither given provocative statements nor indulged in indecent language. UT has won the trust of all sections of society cutting across religions. Khadar was elected MLA five times from Mangaluru (Ullal) constituency. He holds a law degree.
Khadar served as the Minister of Health, Food and Civil Supplies in the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah during 2013-18. He was also the deputy leader of the opposition party in the state assembly. In the JDS-Congress coalition government in the year 2018-19, he handled the portfolios of Housing and Urban Development.
These leaders rejected the offer
Earlier, veteran leaders RV Deshpande, TB Jayachandra and HK Patil were shortlisted by the party for the post of speaker. But, these leaders rejected this proposal. Thereafter, AICC secretary KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala personally spoke to Khader and requested him to take up the post in the interest of the party. Sources said that he also assured them that the party would give them proper recognition. At the same time, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also talked to him and persuaded him.
Let us tell you that the Congress defeated the ruling BJP in the elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly. In the results declared on 13 May, the Congress won 135 seats. BJP 66 and JDS 19 seats.
Read this also- Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah’s seal on 5 promises of Congress, know how many thousand crores will be burdened on the exchequer?
Get the more latest India news updates