MLC nominations: Karnataka govt sends 4 names to Governor Gehlot

Bengaluru: Dalit activist DG Sagar, senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu, Congress’ communications chief Ramesh Babu and Karnataka NRI Forum deputy chairperson Arathi Krishna have been shortlisted by the state government to become MLCs nominated by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The four names have been sent to Raj Bhavan, sources said.

Four MLCs positions that were held by CP Yogeshwar, UB Venkatesh, Prakash Rathod and KA Thippeswamy are vacant. These four nominations -- done through the Governor -- are expected to give the Congress a simple majority in the Legislative Council so that it can pass Bills without hassles.

The Congress has picked two OBCs, one SC and one Vokkaliga.

Sagar, a Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) veteran from Kalaburagi, is close to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He belongs to the SC (Right). In 2013, Sagar had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election from Gulbarga Rural as a JD(S) candidate.

Mattu, who served as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s media advisor during his first term in office (2013-18), belongs to the Ediga community. He was assistant editor at Prajavani.

An advocate by training, Babu has been involved in the cooperation sector for over three decades. He is also an educationist: the Ankitha Education Trust in Chikkanayakanahalli is his. Babu, who is a Naidu, was an MLC when he was with the JD(S).

Arathi, a Vokkaliga, is an AICC secretary attached to the Indian Overseas Congress & Foreign Affairs. She is the daughter of former minister Begane Ramaiah.

There was a long list of persons, including a few journalists, who were aspiring to become MLCs.

MLCs nominated by the Governor are usually persons who have excelled in or contributed to various fields. The ruling Congress was mindful that Gehlot may reject names if they were purely political.