From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 28: Even before the ruling BJP could finalise the name of its candidate to fill up the lone vacant seat in the Karnataka Legislative Council following the resignation of Congress party’s Rizwan Arshad after his election to the State Legislative Assembly from Shivajinagar, the principal opposition Congress has officially decided not to field its candidate.
The by-election for the seat vacated by Congress party’s Rizwan Arshad is scheduled to be held on February 17. The term of the elected member will be up to June 14, 2022.
Dinesh Gundu Rao
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party does not have sufficient numbers in the Assembly to get its candidate elected and, therefore, has decided against fielding the candidate in by-elections to the Legislative Council.
The Congress has 68 members while the JD(S) has 34 members in the Legislative Assembly. The ruling BJP has 116 members.
Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi is most likely to be fielded as the party’s nominee as he has to be elected to one of the Houses within six months after being sworn in as a Minister. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa constituted his Cabinet on August 20. Thus, unless he is elected as a member of either house of the State Legislature, Savadi will cease to hold the ministerial post.
Sources said that while two leaders defeated in the by-polls, A.H. Vishwanath and N. Nagaraju (MTB), were also lobbying for nomination in order to strengthen their claims to be inducted in the State Cabinet.
However, it is common knowledge that Savadi had been promised before the by-elections that he would be accommodated in the Council. Incidentally, Savadi had lost in the 2018 State Assembly polls and was inducted as a Deputy Chief Minister in view of his Lingayat caste affiliation and as a possible leader from North Karnataka, especially in Belagavi district.
The BJP had pacified him and given the party ticket to Mahesh Kumathalli from Athani after he crossed over to the party.