Congress MLA UT Khader unanimously elected new speaker of Karnataka assembly

BENGALURU: Former Karnataka minister and five-time MLA UT Khader was unanimously elected legislative assembly speaker on Wednesday.
Khader (53) will be the first Muslim leader to serve as speaker of Karnataka assembly.
Khader filed his nomination for the post on Tuesday.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah had proposed Khader's name for the post of speaker and it was seconded by deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar.
"Khader's name has been finalised for the speaker's post after consulting the high command. So, it's a party decision," said CM Siddaramaiah, who was present when Khader submitted nomination to the assembly secretary.
As there was no other contender for the post, protem speaker R V Deshpande put the proposal made by the chief minister to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the House.
As per convention, the ruling party's nominee is generally elected unanimously as the speaker.
Khader said he has accepted the job of speaker "wholeheartedly" since the high command directed him to take up the "constitutional and respected" role.
"Everyone can become a minister, but not a speaker. I've worked for six-and-a-half years as minister in the past and also as deputy leader of opposition. This is a huge opportunity, and I will work to run the house with honesty and transparency to serve the people, taking everyone together," he said.
Khader's selection came as a surprise to many as the names of senior party MLAs and former ministers RV Deshpande, HK Patil, and TB Jayachandra were being discussed. "Since none of them showed interest, the party persuaded Khader to take up the responsibility," said a senior MLA.
Usually, no MLA wants to become speaker, as he or she has to forgo party affiliation owing to the nature of the job. Also, MLAs think it will cut off their connections with the people. Another reason is the fact that most speakers have lost elections after occupying the post.
Having started his career as an NSUI member in the 1990s, Khader became MLA from Congress for the first time in 2007 in the by-election necessitated due to the death of his father, UT Fareed, a sitting MLA from Ullal constituency, which has now become Mangaluru. He has won every poll since.
(With inputs from PTI)