Governor nixes government's move to make Lingappa MLC

Okays nominations of Kondajji, Ramesh

Governor Vajubhai R Vala has approved two names recommended by the state government for the Karnataka Legislative Council and set aside one recommendation.

The chief minister’s office on Wednesday said that Vala has rejected the recommendation of the name of C M Lingappa, former Congress MLA, for the nomination to the Council. The two other recommendations approved are that of Mohan Kumar Kondajji and P R Ramesh. A nominated MLC will have a six-year term in office.

As per rules, those who have contributed significantly to the field of arts, literature, cooperation or have done social service should be nominated to the Legislative Council. The governor, according to the CMO, has found Lingappa not falling under any of these categories. He was recommended as an ‘educationist’ as he runs a host of educational institutions including an engineering college, it is said.

During the BJP regime, the nomination of V Somanna as MLC was rejected by the then governor H R Bhardwaj on the grounds that he was defeated when he had contested the Legislative Assembly elections. Hence, such persons should not become nominated MLCs, was the argument.

Lingappa, it is said, faced similar complaint as he too had unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections in the past.

 Usually ruling parties recommend politicians under ‘social service’ category to get their favourites nominated. Lingappa of Ramanagaram enjoys the backing of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar.

The chief minister, keeping caste equations in mind, had selected a Lingayat, a Vokkaliga and an OBC for the nomination. Kondajji, a Lingayat, hails from Davangere. He was spokesman of the Congress.

He is the headquarters commissioner of Bharat Scouts & Guides, Karnataka and national headquarters commissioner, New Delhi. He used to be active in theatre and film fields. His father Kondajji Basappa, was a minister in the prime minister Indira Gandhi Cabinet and the chief minister S Nijalingappa Cabinet in the state.

Ramesh, who belongs to Thigala community, was Bengaluru Mayor between 2003-04.  He is the vice president of Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Mahatma Gandhi and president of Samarpan, an NGO. He was thrice corporator from Visveswarapuram ward in south Bengaluru.