Overview
- Mankal Vaidya was declared elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker on Tuesday after Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar proposed his name and Speaker G. S. Patil announced the unanimous outcome.
- Vaidya filed his nomination papers the day before in the Assembly secretary’s office in the presence of the chief minister and several ministers.
- The BJP registered a protest and boycotted the formalities while allowing the unanimous declaration, saying Vaidya’s candidature had been guided by the Congress high command.
- Vaidya had been expected to join the cabinet during the recent expansion but was dropped at the last minute for S. S. Mallikarjun, and the party has highlighted his fishing‑community roots and past role as Ports and Fisheries minister to frame the appointment.
- In the Legislative Council, former minister Umashree has filed nomination for Deputy Chairperson after the post fell vacant when M. K. Pranesh was disqualified following a recount and Saleem Ahmed was elected chairman, leaving the deputy post at the nomination stage.