Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 13: The upper house of Karnataka now is witnessing predominance of people from coastal Karnataka as the positions of the Council Chairman, leader of the House and leader of the opposition are all occupied by the people hailing from coastal districts of Karnataka.

This has happened for the first time in the history of Karnataka legislative council.

K Pratap Chandra Shetty has occupied the position of the council chairman. He is from Kundapur in Udupi district. Minister for women and child welfare, Dr Jayamala, is the leader of the house.  Kota Srinivas Poojary happens to be the leader of the opposition in the council.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, Pratap Chandra Shetty and Dr Jayamala

K S Eshwarappa was the leader of the opposition in the council till the previous assembly election was held, in which he got elected as a member of the state assembly. Therefore, Kota Srinivas Poojary is currently occupying this post.

The post of leader of the house was with M R Seetharam, who was minster in the previous Congress government. Dr Jayamala has been given the chance to serve in that position now after the new government was formed.

It may be recalled that out of 13 assembly seats divided over Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, only one person, U T Khader, was elected from the Congress recently. He is the urban development minister in the coalition government now. All the five assembly seats in Udupi district are with BJP. Therefore, elevation of Pratap Chandra Shetty will help to infuse new found zeal in Congress party in coastal districts, analysts feel.