G. S. Patil elected Karnataka Assembly Speaker amid opposition boycott

Congress MLA G. S. Patil has been elected as the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The election took place in the absence of opposition members from the BJP and JD(S), who boycotted the proceedings.

Opposition leaders criticized the process, alleging that the Congress government undermined the constitutional sanctity of the post by announcing Patil’s candidacy on an official party letterhead. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka urged the new Speaker to maintain the independence and dignity of the Chair, stating that the position should represent the Constitution rather than a political party.

In a separate election, Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed was elected Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, defeating the NDA candidate P. H. Pujar by eight votes. The election follows the vacancy left by former officials and marks a significant step in the leadership structure of the state legislature.