GS Patil elected Karnataka Assembly Speaker; BJP, JD(S) boycott election

Bengaluru, Aug 14 (PTI) Congress MLA Gurupadagouda Sanganagouda Patil was elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday.

Popularly known as G S Patil, his name was proposed by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

Pro-tem Speaker T B Jayachandra, who presided over the proceedings, declared Patil elected after a voice vote.

The opposition BJP and JD(S) boycotted the Speaker election, and were not present in the House during the process.

The post fell vacant following the resignation of U T Khader ahead of his induction into the Shivakumar-led Council of Ministers on June 3.

Patil is a four-time MLA from the Ron Assembly constituency in Gadag district. A member of the Lingayat community, he previously served as chairman of the Karnataka Mineral Development Corporation and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd.

Ahead of the Speaker election, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka had announced the BJP and JD(S)'s decision to boycott the process in protest against the ruling Congress "unconstitutionally" naming the new Speaker on its official letterhead.

He told reporters that the Congress was starting a new tradition in the country and the state by announcing the Speaker's name on its party letterhead, thereby undermining the sovereignty of the House and the rights of its elected representatives.

He was referring to the Congress high command's letter to CM D K Shivakumar on August 3, which contained the names of 19 ministers to be inducted into his Cabinet. The letter also contained the names of the party's nominees for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman and Deputy Chairman posts.

Ashoka had also made it clear that once the Speaker was elected, the BJP and JD(S) would accord the Speaker's chair and office all due respect.

Accordingly, once Patil was declared elected as the Speaker, all BJP and JD(S) members came to the House. LoP Ashoka even joined the CM in escorting the new Speaker to his chair.

Addressing the House after taking over the responsibility of the Speaker, Patil said he wants to implement a paperless legislature 'e-Vidhana,' using technology as soon as possible. He also said that the practice of providing good training for MLAs would continue.

Thanking the House and its members for electing him as the Speaker, he assured that he would try to live up to the expectations placed on him and make an honest effort to ensure the smooth conduct of the proceedings, according to the rules, taking everyone along.

Expressing gratitude to the people of his Ron constituency, the new Speaker said "Four decades after beginning his political journey at Ron Purasabha, I have occupied the highest seat in this House. This is the beauty of democracy." For the Speaker, the only party is that of the Constitution, not the ruling or opposition party, he said, "The success of democracy doesn't lie in majority, but in the respect given to the voice of the Opposition." Speaking after the Speaker's election in the Assembly, CM Shivakumar said the Congress high command had not unilaterally declared the Speaker's name but had only named the party's nominee for the position in a letter written to him. He said the opposition has taken a "political stand".

"The Speaker's chair is not a personal seat. Our party leaders recommended a party nominee for this position; they did not unilaterally declare the Speaker. The opposition leaders are protesting this by boycotting. Whoever becomes Speaker is above party lines and must listen to everyone. Therefore, the opposition should have participated in the Speaker's election instead of protesting. Protesting does not suit their dignity,” he opined.

Speaking about the Speaker, the CM highlighted that he belonged to a prominent agricultural family, which has served the society for decades.

"You (Patil) have been in politics with us for many years... Your brother R.S. Patil served as a Member of Parliament. Another brother serves in the cooperative sector, and the other brother served in the Health Department. One of your brothers is B.S. Patil, who served as the Chief Secretary of the state. Your younger brother is the DCC Bank President. Your entire family has served society in this manner," he said.

LoP Ashoka sepaking in the Assembly, said declaring the Speaker's name on a Congress letterhead is not a good precedent, as it is a constitutional post. The Speaker post belongs to the House and no blemish should be attached to it.

By announcing the Speaker's name on party letterhead, the ruling Congress disrespected the post, he alleged, adding, "Such decisions (Speaker election) are not made in the party office, but in the House (Assembly)... What if instructions also start coming to the Speaker's office on party letterheads? Will there be respect? That's our concern," he added.

Wishing Patil the best, Ashoka said the expectation from the new Speaker is that the Speaker’s Chair should stand above party politics. The Constitution should be held in greater esteem than any party letterhead. The Rules of Procedure of the House should take precedence over instructions from the government or the party. PTI