Bengaluru, May 23 (). Former minister and Congress MLA U.T. Khadar is likely to become the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. According to sources, the high command managed to persuade Khader to take up the role.
Sources said Khader is likely to file his nomination on Tuesday. The deadline for filing nominations will end at 12 noon on Tuesday.
The House will elect the Speaker on May 24. As per tradition, he is likely to be elected unanimously. Khadar is a soft-spoken politician, elected five times as MLA from Mangaluru (Ullal) constituency.
He served as the Minister of Health and Food Supplies in the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah in 2013. He was also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly.
Before this veteran leader R.V. Deshpande, T.B. Jayachandra and H.K. Patil was shortlisted by the party for the speaker’s post. But these leaders turned down the offer.
AICC secretary K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala personally spoke to Khader and requested him to take over the post in the interest of the party. Sources said he also assured them that the party would give them proper recognition.
Later Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also spoke to him and persuaded him. Though Khadar hails from communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada, he has neither made inflammatory statements nor indulged in hate speech. He has won the trust of all sections of society cutting across religions.
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