From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 18: With repeated attempts to forge consensus on the selection of the Karnataka Lokayukta’s selection failing to materialise, the Siddaramaiah ministry is making yet another bid to evolve consensus in the selection of a candidate for the Karnataka Lokayukta.

Though the State Government was keen on pushing the name of Karnataka Law Commission Chairman S R Nayak for the post, the opposition BJP opposed it stating that the institution required a reputed legal luminary to re-establish the credibility of the institution. 

The post of the Karnataka Lokayukta was vacant since December 8, 2015.

A consultative panel headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is believed to be making every effort to arrive consensus on selection of the candidate this time. 

Last two meetings had failed to arrive consensus as ruling and opposition members in the panel suggesting different names. 

During previous meetings, Siddaramaiah and Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa backed the candidature of Justice Nayak while other members, including, acting Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, favoured Vikramjit Sen, retired Supreme Court judge, for the post.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, his counterpart in the Council K.S. Eshwarappa, and Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy supported Justice Sen’s candidature. 

However, it was reported that Justice Sen had withdrawn his consent to become the State Lokayukta.

A unanimous choice of the candidate by the panel was essential in order to avoid future litigation in the appointment of the Lokayukta.