Mankal Vaidya, a two-time MLA from the Congress, has been elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Vaidya represents the Bhatkal Assembly constituency in Uttara Kannada district. Chief Minister D.K.
Shivakumar proposed his name, while Cooperation Minister Laxman Savadi seconded the proposal. Speaker G. 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 also 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, despite boycotting the election and 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. Congratulating the newly elected Deputy Speaker, Mr. Shivakumar said Mr. Vaidya should not feel that the Deputy Speaker’s post is a lesser position. He also stated that he would not use his office to make enemies or hurt anyone, and asserted that he would work with leaders of all political parties in the interest of Karnataka.
Mr. Shivakumar emphasized that he represents all legislators, and not merely Congress MLAs. He quoted Swami Vivekananda, saying ‘One should be bold-hearted in defeat, and large-hearted in victory.’ He also recalled his political journey from his student days, quoting German statesman Otto von Bismarck’s observation that ‘politics is the art of the possible.’ Mr. Shivakumar said he would not use his position against anyone, and would work with leaders across party lines for the development of the State. He emphasized that the State Government is ready to work with Union Ministers and appreciated Union Minister S.R.
Patil’s co-operation on irrigation issues. Mr. Shivakumar also outlined his vision for the next 25 years, saying that political differences should be set aside in the larger interest of Karnataka. He said, ‘Let us work together for a better Karnataka now and do politics during elections.’ He added, ‘Power is not permanent, but we should work for the welfare of all when we are given the authority to frame laws and policies.’ Furthermore, Mr. Shivakumar informed the Assembly that he would travel to Chennai to attend the Southern States Chief Ministers’ Conference on August 19 and 20, to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
On the sidelines of the conference, he is expected to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, with the Cauvery water-sharing issue likely to figure prominently in the discussions. 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. 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, who also hails from Uttara Kannada, served as the Speaker during the previous BJP government.
