Mankal Vaidya elected unopposed as Karnataka Assembly Deputy Speaker

Two-time MLA Mankal Vaidya of the Congress was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on August 18.

Mr. Vaidya represents the Bhatkal Assembly constituency in Uttara Kannada district. Chief Minister D.K. While Cooperation Minister Laxman Savadi seconded the proposal.

Speaker G, shivakumar proposed his name. S. Patil announced the unanimous election of Mr. Vaidya as Deputy Speaker of the House.

Mr. Vaidya was first elected to the Assembly in 2013 as an independent, and subsequently joined the Congress. He lost the 2018 Assembly election but returned to the Assembly in 2023 on a Congress ticket. He served as Minister for Ports and Fisheries in the Siddaramaiah government for three years. He has served as a member of the zilla panchayat and as vice-president of the Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat.

The principal opposition BJP facilitated the unanimous election of Mr. Vaidya. The party had boycotted the election, alleging that his candidature had been recommended by the Congress high command.

Mr. Vaidya’s election as Deputy Speaker comes after he was denied a Cabinet berth during the second phase of the Cabinet expansion. His name had figured in the list of legislators expected to be inducted, but S.S. Mallikarjun, MLA from Davangere North, was inducted at the last moment instead.

Mr. Shivakumar said Mr. Vaidya, who comes from a fishing community, should not feel that the Deputy Speaker’s post is a lesser position. “He should not feel degraded by occupying the post of Deputy Speaker,” he said.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok urged Speaker G.S. Patil to give Mr. Vaidya an opportunity to preside over the Assembly proceedings regularly so that he could gain experience in conducting the business of the House.

Mr. Ashok recalled that former Speaker U.T. Khader used to preside over the proceedings for the entire day, leaving little opportunity for then Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani. This person is now a minister, to chair the House.

Former minister R. V. Deshpande and BJP MLA Dinkar K. Shetty, who also hail from Uttara Kannada district, spoke on the achievements and experiences of Mr. Vaidya.

BJP MP Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri. This person also hails from Uttara Kannada, served as the Speaker during the previous BJP administration.