Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sept 8: In a significant political development, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has cleared the nomination of four individuals to the Karnataka Legislative Council, bringing an end to months of vacancies in the Upper House.
The appointments include prominent Karnataka NRI forum deputy-chairperson Dr Arathi Krishna, senior journalist K Shivakumar, former MLC Ramesh Babu, and Dalit leader F H Jakkappanavar.
The state government issued the official notification on Sunday, following the Governor’s assent. The nominations are under the category of members with special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.
Dr Arathi Krishna, deputy-chairperson of the Karnataka NRI Forum, is a well-known educationist and labour rights advocate. She also serves as vice-president of the Dr Ambedkar Foundation under the AICC SC Cell, and has long been associated with the Congress party’s outreach among global Kannadigas.
F H Jakkappanavar, a senior functionary of the AICC SC Cell, has been nominated for his grassroots work in Dalit communities, while Ramesh Babu, former JD(S) MLC and now head of the KPCC media cell, makes a return to the Council under Congress’s banner.
Veteran journalist K Shivakumar, currently senior assistant editor at The New Indian Express, brings over two decades of experience in political and public affairs reporting, and has been chosen for his contributions to journalism.
The four nominees are expected to take oath soon, once Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti finalises the date for the swearing-in ceremony.
Of the four, only Ramesh Babu will serve a short term of ten months, ending on July 21, 2026. His nomination fills the vacancy left by C P Yogeshwara, who resigned after being elected as the MLA from Channapatna. The remaining three — Arathi Krishna, Jakkappanavar, and Shivakumar — will serve full six-year terms.
With these nominations, the Congress party has strengthened its numerical position in the Legislative Council, now emerging as the single largest force. The BJP–JDS alliance currently holds 37 seats, giving the impression of parity in the Upper House. However, Independent MLC Lakhan Jarkiholi, brother of PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi, is aligned with the Congress, tipping the balance decisively.
This shift is being seen as a strategic win for the ruling party, which had earlier faced legislative hurdles in the Council. With the latest appointments, the Congress is expected to move forward with a stronger legislative footing.