Karnataka: Mankal Vaidya to be Deputy Speaker; Umashree files nomination for Deputy Chairperson

Congress MLA Mankal Vaidya filed his nomination papers on Monday for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, former Minister Umashree filed her nomination for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar participates in the filing of nomination papers by Mankal Vaidya for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Bengaluru on Monday.
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Mr. Vaidya represents the Bhatkal Assembly constituency in Uttara Kannada district. He submitted his nomination papers to Assembly Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi in the presence of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers Laxman Savadi and H.C. Balakrishna, MLA Shivaram Hebbar, and others.

In a surprise development, Mr. Vaidya, whose name had figured on the list of legislators expected to be inducted during the second phase of the Cabinet expansion, was denied a Cabinet berth at the last moment. Instead, S.S. Mallikarjun, MLA from Davangere North, was inducted into the Cabinet.

Mr. Vaidya is now set to be accommodated as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and is likely to be elected unopposed.

For the post of Deputy Chairperson, the Congress had announced the candidature of Ms. Umashree along with that of Saleem Ahmed, who was elected Chairman of the Council on Friday.

After disqualificaiton

The post of Deputy Chairperson had fallen vacant after BJP member M.K. Pranesh, then Deputy Chairman, was disqualified following a recount of votes in which A.H. Gayatri Shanthegowda emerged victorious.

Ms. Umashree has previously held the Women and Child Development and Kannada and Culture portfolios.