Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jan 5: On January 20, the Congress Party is set to lose its position as the main opposition party in the legislative council, because of the retirement of some of its members. M C Nanaiah, who presently is the leader of the JDS legislative party in the council, is most likely to take over from the present leader, V S Ugrappa of the Congress.

Ugrappa is set to retire on Tuesday January 5. On January 20, three more Congress members, Mallajamma, Prakash Rathod and writer, Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar, will retire. The strength of the party will then slip to 16 from the current 19, as a result of which, the JDS, with membership strength of 17, is slated to become the main opposition. During the period from January 5 to 20, either V R Sudarshan or Motamma, who are aspirants for the post, may temporarily get the post of the leader of the opposition in the legislative council. Most likely, veteran Congressman Sudarshan, who has earlier served as the chairman and deputy chairman of the council, may be chosen by the party to lead its members in the council. There is a likelihood that the post may be allowed to remain vacant, as the council is not in session now.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, R V Deshpande has said that the issue has already brought to the notice of union health and family welfare minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of the party affairs in the state.

Later during the year, the JDS will lose its members, B R Gurudev and M Srinivas, who will retire on June 14, followed by K T Srikanthe Gowda and Basavaraj Horatti on the 30th of that month. Chairman of the council, Veeranna Mattikatti, chief whip of the opposition, R V Venkatesh, and BJP’s Mukhyamantri Chandru and G M Madhu will also retire in June. Election for seven posts from legislative assembly constituency, two each from graduates constituency and teachers’ constituency, will be held in May. The party position will change, depending on the results then. The JDS can hope to continue to retain its position as the main opposition in the council, only if it retains the four seats it is set to lose in June, which looks improbable. The seven seats in the assembly are likely to be shared by BJP, Congress and JDS at the rate of four, two and one, respectively.

Some of the newly elected council members will take oath on January 7, while others have expressed their preference to wait till January 14 to do so, said council chairman, Veeranna Mattikatti.