G.S. Patil of the Congress was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, while Saleem Ahmed of the Congress secured the chairmanship of the Legislative Council in a contested election. These leadership changes followed the resignations from the previous officeholders. The Assembly election saw a boycott from the BJP and JD(S) who protested the Congress's pre-election announcement of their candidate, deeming it inappropriate for a constitutional post. The Legislative Council election, however, featured a direct contest where Saleem Ahmed defeated the joint opposition candidate. The elections highlight the ongoing political dynamics and confrontations between the ruling Congress and opposition parties in Karnataka.

G.S. Patil of the Congress was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, while Saleem Ahmed of the Congress secured the chairmanship of the Legislative Council in a contested election. These leadership changes followed the resignations from the previous officeholders. The Assembly election saw a boycott from the BJP and JD(S) who protested the Congress's pre-election announcement of their candidate, deeming it inappropriate for a constitutional post. The Legislative Council election, however, featured a direct contest where Saleem Ahmed defeated the joint opposition candidate. The elections highlight the ongoing political dynamics and confrontations between the ruling Congress and opposition parties in Karnataka.

G.S. Patil of the Congress was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, while Saleem Ahmed of the Congress secured the chairmanship of the Legislative Council in a contested election. These leadership changes followed the resignations from the previous officeholders. The Assembly election saw a boycott from the BJP and JD(S) who protested the Congress's pre-election announcement of their candidate, deeming it inappropriate for a constitutional post. The Legislative Council election, however, featured a direct contest where Saleem Ahmed defeated the joint opposition candidate. The elections highlight the ongoing political dynamics and confrontations between the ruling Congress and opposition parties in Karnataka.

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly elected senior Congress legislator G.S. Patil as Speaker and MLC Saleem Ahmed as  Chairman of the Legislative Council on the second day of the joint monsoon session on Friday.

The two key constitutional posts had fallen vacant after U.T. Khader, who served as Speaker during Siddaramaiah’s tenure, resigned to join D.K. Shivakumar’s Cabinet as a minister. The chairmanship of the Legislative Council, meanwhile, became a point of controversy after Basavaraj Horatti resigned as chairman last week, alleging that he had been forced to step down.

Gurupadagouda Sanganagouda Patil, popularly known as G.S. Patil, is a four-time MLA from Ron in Gadag district. A senior Congress leader from North Karnataka, Patil has also headed the Karnataka Mineral Development Corporation and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited. He was first elected to the Assembly from Ron in 1989.

On Friday, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar proposed Patil’s name in the Assembly, with Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara supporting the motion. With the BJP and JD(S) boycotting the election, Patil was declared elected through a voice vote.

The Opposition objected to the Congress announcing Patil’s name on the party’s letterhead even before the House formally elected him. BJP and JD(S) members argued that the Speaker is a constitutional authority and that the election should not be treated as a party appointment.

In the Legislative Council, the Congress chose Saleem Ahmed, another veteran party organiser, for the chairmanship. Ahmed has had a long association with the Congress, beginning his political career in student politics before serving in the NSUI and Indian Youth Congress. He has served as a member of the Legislative Council for several terms and was also the Government Chief Whip in the Council.


Unlike the Assembly, the Council saw a contest. The BJP-JD(S) combine fielded P.H. Pujar against Ahmed. Ahmed defeated Pujar by eight votes to become the new Chairman. Saleem Ahmed displayed the copy of the Indian Constitution before taking charge as the Chairman.

The elections to both posts came amid a political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the Opposition. BJP leaders said they respected the institutions of the Speaker and Chairman but objected to what they described as the ruling party deciding the occupants of constitutional posts before the legislature formally exercised its choice.

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