From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Update: June 25
Bangalore, Jun 25: It's official. Leader from the coastal city of Mangalore Ivan D’Souza, who is also the KPCC General Secretary, is among the five persons nominated to the Karnataka Legislative Council.
The list of the names of the five persons for nominations were recommended to the State Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj and were approved on Tuesday.
Ivan D'Souza
V S Ugrappa, Iqbal Ahamed Sardagi, Abdul Jabbar and Jayamala
The other four persons are: V S Ugrappa, former MLC, Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi, Abdul Jabbar and Kannada film actor Jayamala.
Jayamala, the former President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, is also from the coastal region as Ivan D’Souza.
There were indications that the Governor, who is due to retire on June 29, may not approve the names of active political persons.
The Governor himself had given indications to that effect and the State BJP leaders, who had been put to similar trouble in past when the former BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa sought to nominate V Somanna. The BJP leaders, who were stung by the embarrassment, had even submitted a memorandum against nominating active political persons from the nominations category to the Upper House.
Incidentally, the nomination of Ivan D’Souza was hanging in the balance as Siddaramaiah had reportedly favoured nomination of trade union leader Shantha Kumar, who belongs to the Protestant Christians, from the minority Christian quota.
But strenuous efforts and lobbying by Congress leaders from the coastal region succeeded in prevailing upon the chief minister to relent and accommodate Ivan D’Souza’s name.
Abdul Jabbar is the Davangere District Congress Committee president while Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi is from the Gulbarga region.
The inclusion of three minority candidates – two from among the Muslims and one from Christians, especially Catholics from Mangalore – sends a strong message to the people of Karnataka that the Congress party is the only champion of minorities.
Ugrappa had been a strong supporter of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. He quit the JD(S) to join Congress prior to the 2009 assembly elections.
Earlier Report: June 24
Bangalore: Ivan D'Souza finally makes it as Congress MLC
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 24: KPCC General Secretary from coastal Dakshina Kannada Ivan D’Souza has finally managed to get his name included in the list of five slots for nominations to the Karnataka Legislative Council and the list submitted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the State Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj has been cleared.
Though official announcement regarding the approval of the names submitted by the Chief Minister is yet to be received from Raj Bhavan, informed sources said the Governor has cleared the list.
The other four persons whose names figure in the list for nominations is V S Ugrappa, Iqbal Ahamed Sardagi, Abdul Jabbar and Jayamala, the informed sources said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had reportedly favoured labour leader Shantha Kumar, who belongs to the Protestant Christians. But Congress leaders prevailed upon the chief minister to include Ivan D’Souza’s name.
Meanwhile, JD(S) has bagged two seats while Congress and BJP have won one each in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council from the Teachers and Graduates Constituencies for the four seats, the counting for which was held today.
The elections to the four seats to the Legislative Council were held on June 20.
Sitting JD(S) member Puttanna and newcomer Chowda Reddy emerged victorious in Bangalore Teachers’ and South-East Graduates constituencies respectively.
Sharanappa Mattur of the Congress and S V Sanknur of the BJP declared elected from North-East Teachers’ and West Graduates constituencies, respectively.
Opposition BJP relied upon continuation of Modi wave in Legislative Council elections too.
Inspite of organized campaign of party leaders including three Union ministers party has retained one seat out of three seats which won in 2008 elections.
The BJP managed to retain Karnataka West Graduate Constituency. Party candidate Prof S V Sankanuru won by defeating JD(S) candidate Vasanth Horatti.
BJP chief whip in the Council Dr K H Shivayogiswamy was defeated by JD(S) candidate Chowda Reddy in Karnataka South-East Graduate Constituency.
Shashil Namoshi was defeated by Congress candidate to Sharanappa Mattur in Karnataka North-East Teachers’ Constituency while another BJP candidate Neelaiah was defeated by JD(S) candidate Puttanna in Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency.
Puttanna has won by an impressive margin of 8000 votes and this was his third consecutive victory.
Defeat of Namoshi and Dr Shivayogiswamy was unexpected to BJP leadership. Though party has no base in Karnataka South East Graduates Constituency, it had hopes that good beginning of Modi government would help in the elections.