Karnataka: Ruling Congress eyeing top Council posts?
Two posts in upper House are now with the Opposition.
BENGALURU: Making the most of their increase in numerical strength, members of ruling Congress are eyeing posts of Chairman and deputy Chairman of Legislative Council which are now occupied by the Opposition.
In view of the pact between BJP and JD(S) in the Council, members of Congress have encountered problems while tabling important bills. Recently, the combined Opposition ensured that a bill to divide BBMP was referred to a select committee. Therefore, they are keen to unseat Chairman and deputy Chairman but could well be forced to wait till June 2016 to cross the magic figure of 35 and gain control of the upper House.
Senior members of Congress in the upper House told DC that at present, Congress has 29 members following its impressive performance in elections to local bodies. Of the five independents, three have identified with ruling party. On the other hand, BJP, including Chairman, has 27 members and JD (S), 11. The strength of combined Opposition is 37 and with the help of two Independent members D.U. Mallikarjuna and Basavanagowda R. Patil Yatnal, the combined strength would reach 39. With the help of independent MLCs and rebel members of JD(S), the ruling party has set out to unseat Chairman and deputy Chairperson posts. Besides, they have urged CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC President Dr. G. Parameshwar to fill two vacancies as BJP-nominated members, Prof Krishna Bhat and actor Jaggesh, retired in February and one more nominated member of BJP, Lehar Singh, would retire in May.
As two members in nominated category must represent fields like art, literature or education, leaders have commenced discussions on probable candidates including former MP Ramya. Her name has been approved by the high command and therefore Ramya could make it to the upper House. In the field of literature, however, the CM seems likely to consider the candidature of authors such as Devanura Mahadeva, K. Marulasiddappa and K. Siddaramaiah. But it would not be easy for the CM to get the approval from the party for his nominees. Writer Dr. Baraguru Ramachandrappa’s name has been doing rounds.