Governor Vajubai Vala rejects Lingappa's name for Upper House
Although Mr Lingappa, who runs a chain of institutions, was recommended under the education and social service category.
Bengaluru: In a snub for the state government, Governor Vajubai Vala has rejected its decision to nominate former Congress MLA, C.M. Lingappa to the Legislative Council. He has however, accepted the nominations of Congress leaders, Kondajji Mohan and P.R. Ramesh to the Upper House.
Although Mr Lingappa, who runs a chain of institutions, was recommended under the education and social service category, the Governor did not think he qualified for it, according to sources.
Mr Mohan was selected for his service to the scouts and guides and Mr Ramesh a former mayor, for his involvement in producing films and encouraging literature.
A loyalist of Energy Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, Mr Lingappa’s nomination was reportedly opposed by former MP, Tejaswini Gowda, who is presently with the BJP. While both Mr Lingappa and Ms Gowda are from the Vokkaliga community and had worked together in the past, she joined the BJP after a fall-out with Mr Shivakumar.
Hearing of Mr Lingappa’s name being forwarded to Raj Bhavan, Ms Gowda is said to have petitioned Mr Vala listing the reasons why he should not be nominated to the Council.
When the BJP was in power in the state, the then governor, H.R. Bharadwaj had rejected the nomination of Mr V. Somanna to the Upper House under the social service category.