Vimala set to be elected as Council deputy chief

Vimala is replacing Puttanna, who was removed through a resolution moved by the BJP in the Council on Friday. She submitted her nomination on Sunday in the presence of Lok Sabha member H N Ananth Kumar, Minister R Ashoka and others. With no other nominations, Vimala will be elected unopposed. M R Lakshamma and Rani Satish are the other two women who held the post.

Fiftynine-year-old Vimala was initiated into politics by her neighbour A K Subbaiah in 1980. After completing her BA from Maharani’s College, she chose to pursue her political ambitions with the saffron party. She contested once for the MLA seat and twice for the corporator seat, but in vain. A second-time MLC, her term will conclude in two years.

Vimala has been serving the BJP in various capacities. She was the chairperson of the Southern Zone Women Empowerment Committee during the NDA regime and also the president of the Women’s Wing of BJP State unit. Her vociferous demand for a berth in Yeddyurappa Cabinet, however, went unheard.

Speaking to mediapersons she said, “I deserve more than what I have got now, for the kind of calibre I have and the service I have rendered to the party. Due to various reasons I did not get a berth in the Cabinet. Anybody can become a minister. But the post of chairperson or deputy chairperson is challenging. I will show how a deputy chairperson could function efficiently in the Council,” she said.