The chief minister recommended former ministers Umashree and MR Seetharam, and former IRS officer Sudham Das.
CM Siddaramaiah has recommended two senior leaders and a former Indian Revenue Service officer for the nomination of legislative council. (supplied)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to nominate three Congress leaders as Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) appears to have not gone down well within the party, as many leaders reportedly raised objections to the names.
Siddaramaiah is said to have submitted a letter at Raj Bhavan on 14 August recommending three names to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to nominate them as MLCs.
“The chief minister has recommended actor-turned-politician Umashree under the Art quota, Sudham Das under the Social Service quota, and Seetharam under the Education quota. A letter recommending these three names has already been submitted to the Governor’s office,” officials at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) told South First.
However, many senior leaders reportedly expressed dissent before the party high command over these nominations.
Among the 75 members of the Legislative Council, 25 are elected by the local authorities, 25 are elected by the Legislative Assembly members, seven are elected by teachers, seven are elected by graduates, and the remaining 11 are nominated by the Governor.
Currently, 29 members are from the Congress, 35 are from the BJP, eight are from the JD(S), and one is an independent.
Among the 11 seats filled by the Governor, three seats have been vacant since 17 May.
Siddaramaiah has recommended two senior leaders and a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer for nomination to the Legislative Council. He also met the Governor and held discussions on the matter.
Actor-turned-politician Umashree served as a Cabinet minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government (2013-18) and was the MLA from Bagalkot’s Terdal segment.
She was denied a ticket from the seat in May’s Assembly elections. She has acted in over 400 movies, and has been recommended under the Art quota.
“I do not have any information about the chief minister recommending my name as an MLC. I would not like to comment on the matter until the names are officially announced,” she told South First.
Educationist MR Seetharam, who is the director of the MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, served as a Cabinet minister (2016-18) in the previous Congress government and was nominated as an MLC in 2012. He has been recommended under the Education quota.
It may also be noted that Seetharam has been accused in a disproportionate asset case, and the Karnataka High Court recently refused to quash the proceedings against the former minister in the case.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged in a complaint that the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited’s former managing director TN Chikkarayappa routed ₹50 lakh through the MS Ramaiah Education Society, of which Seetharam is the president.
Former IRS officer Sudham Das, who is the son of former Sathanur MLA H Puttadas, joined the party around five months ago. His name has been recommended under the Social Service quota.
The chief minister recommended the names of Umashree and MR Seetharam and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recommended Sudham Das, claimed Congress sources.
Several senior leaders, including Cabinet ministers, have reportedly raised objections before the party high command over the nomination of these three leaders to the Legislative Council.
Ministers G Parameshwar and KH Muniyappa have reportedly expressed dissent before the Congress high command.
On condition of anonymity, an AICC secretary confirmed as much to South First and said: “The leaders are not happy with the high command.”
He added: “The party registered a thumping victory in the Assembly polls and formed a government without any hurdles in the state. It is time for the high command to recognise and honour the sincere and hardworking party workers instead of recommending the names of senior leaders and newcomers.”
He also said: “Umashree has been MLA and a minister. She has enjoyed the power and positions in the government. Similarly, Seetharam was also nominated as an MLC and was a minister in the previous Congress government. These senior leaders should pave the way for new faces instead of crying for power.”
He also said: “Sudham Das joined the party barely five months ago. Meanwhile, several leaders and party workers have been sweating for the party for years. The party should give priority to them instead of newcomers.”
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