Karnataka: Days, after the state government was formed in Karnataka, Congress leader and five-time MLA UT Khader filed the nomination for the Speaker of Vidhana Soudha. The Mangalore legislator is set to become the youngest Speaker of the State Assembly.
Khader filed the nomination in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Who is UT Khader?
Khader was born and brought up in Mangalore Ullal. The 53-year-old leader has served as the Cabinet Minister for Urban Development and Housing. He was also Minister for Health and Family Welfare of Karnataka from May 2013 to June 2016 as part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet.
Khader was the only Congress MLA to win from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in the 2018 State election. Meanwhile, this time, he registered a win in the Mangalore constituency by a margin of more than 22,000 votes. He defeated BJP candidate Sathish Kumpala from the constituency.
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Karnataka Assembly Session began with pro-tem Speaker
Earlier on Monday (May 22), Karnataka Assembly Session began with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administering oath to Congress leader RV Deshpande as pro-tem Speaker for the Legislative Assembly session.
Meanwhile, Congress workers were seen sprinkling cow urine and performing Pooja at the State Assembly in Bengaluru. The workers said that they are "purifying" Vidhana Soudha.
Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister
Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for the second time on Saturday after the party's thumping victory in the Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge, party's MLAs G Parameshwara and MB Patil were among eight MLAs who took oath on Saturday (May 20).
It should be mentioned here that Congress bagged 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly ousting the ruling BJP, which got 66 seats while the Janata Dal (Secular) secured 19 seats in the results declared on May 13.
(With inputs from agencies)
