BANGALORE: Veteran Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa is the new Speaker. CM Siddaramaiah told reporters here on Saturday that Thimappa would be elected to the post. There were no takers for the post as everyone wanted to be a minister and Thimappa was persuaded to take it. SR Patil, opposition leader in the legislative council, is most likely to be inducted into the cabinet.
In the 29-member ministry, not a single person is from the council, which has many senior leaders like S R Patil, C Motamma and Veeranna Mattikatti. Owing to pressure, Siddaramaiah has been directed to induct one person from the council. “We should have a leader of the House in the council. Hence, we have decided to induct one person from the council into the cabinet,” the CM said. It’s not mandatory to have an MLC as the leader of the House. A minister from the lower House can be the leader of the House in the council.
