Bangalore,May 31, 2013:
Senior Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa was unanimously elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, today.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed his name and was seconded by Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra also proposed the candidature of the 82-year-old MLA, which was backed by C S Nadagouda. He was the lone candidate who filed nomination papers for the post.
After a voice-vote, pro-tem Speaker Malikayya Guttedar announced that Thimmappa, a former Minister who was elected from Sagara in Shimoga district in the May five electionss, was elected to the post unanimously.
Soon after declaration Chief Minister and Opposition leaders escorted him to Speakers Chair. Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition H D Kumaraswamy (JDS) and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar (BJP) and others who spoke, congratulated the new Speaker.
Thimmappa, a former Minister and MLA from Sagara in Shimoga district, was initially reluctant to take the position as he was keen to join the Siddaramaiah Cabinet but was persuaded by the Congress leadership to change his mind. ENN
