Council deputy chairperson won't be elected unopposed

An election is likely for the post of Deputy Chairperson of Legislative Council with the Congress fielding R Dharmasena against Maritibbegowda of the JD(S).

MLCs will form the electoral college for the election scheduled for Saturday. Until Thursday, Maritibbegowda was expected to be elected Deputy Chairperson unopposed. On Friday morning, however, Dharmasena filed nomination papers on the direction of the Congress party. The Congress had zeroed in on former minister Motamma and Dharmasena. But Motamma declined to contest and Dharmasena was picked, sources said.

The post fell vacant after the incumbent, Puttanna of the JD(S), resigned. The JD(S) had decided Puttanna would serve as Deputy Chairperson for a year and pave way for Maritibbegowda.

In a way, the Congress is hitting back by making things difficult for the JD(S). Last year, the JD(S) and the Congress had joined hands to dislodge both Chairman D H Shankaramurthy and the then Deputy Chairperson, Vimala Gowda. The BJP, however, weaned the JD(S) off by cajoling it into taking up the deputy chairperson’s post and allowing Shankaramurthy to continue as chairman.

Maritibbegowda has an edge in Saturday’s election as he has the support of the BJP which has 32 members, including Shankaramurthy, in the 75-member House. The JD(S) has 12 members and the Congress 31. Both the BJP and the JD(S) have issued whip to their respective members.