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Motamma will be first woman Opposition leader in Council

Last Updated 09 January 2010, 17:27 IST
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The Congress has nominated former minister Motammma for the post.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah informed presspersons here on Saturday that the party high command sent a fax suggesting Motamma’s name for the post.

The CLP leader, as per the procedure, will inform the Council chairman on the decision.
Motamma will enjoy the position for a short duration as the Congress loses its status of principal opposition party on June 20. Three nominated members will retire reducing the party’s strength in the Council to 16. The Council elections scheduled in May and June may, however, tilt the balance in its favour. The legislature is yet to issue a notification on the appointment of Motamma.

The JD(S) is yet to decide on occupying the slot of the principal opposition for a short duration. MLC Y S V Datta said, “If the government convenes the session after a month, we may have to think whether to be the principal Opposition because we will be left with very short duration before leaving the position to the Congress. When the time comes, we will discuss with the Congress and decide”.

Loyalty has paid

The 49-year-old Motamma, a former Congress Working Committee member said her loyalty to the party brought her the position.

“The fact that I am one among the senior women leaders in the party has also played a role in my selection,”  she said. Motamma is elected to the Council from the Legislative Assembly. Her term as MLC completes in June 2012.

Motamma entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1978 after winning Mudigere seat on Congress ticket. Before that she had served as probationary sub-registrar in Chikmagalur. The then Lok Sabha member from Chikmagalur D B Chandre Gowda brought her into politics.

As an MLA of Mudigere she campaigned for Indira Gandhi, when she contested for Parliament from Chikmagalur. She was elected to the Assembly three times and served as minister of Women and Child Development during the S M Krishna’s tenure as Chief Minister. She is said to be close to Sonia Gandhi.

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(Published 09 January 2010, 17:27 IST)

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