Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Opposition Fields Pujar for Council Chairman; BJP Boycotts Speaker Poll
In the Indian state of Karnataka, leaders were preparing to choose new heads for two important lawmaking groups.
On August 14, members were set to elect a new Speaker for the Legislative Assembly and a new Chairman for the Legislative Council.
These jobs became empty after the previous leaders, U T Khader and Basavaraj Horatti, stepped down.
The Congress party, which runs the state government, chose its own candidates: G S Patil for Speaker and Saleem Ahmed for Council Chairman.
The opposing BJP and JD(S) parties chose P H Pujar to run for Council Chairman, so that post would have a real contest.
But for the Speaker post, the BJP decided not to take part in the election at all.
BJP leader R Ashoka said the Congress acted unfairly by announcing its Speaker choice on the party's letterhead before the election.
He said this went against the rules and took away the rights of the elected members.
Because the opposition did not field a candidate for Speaker, the Congress candidate was expected to win without a contest.
The BJP-JD(S) opposition combine fielded BJP MLC P H Pujar as its NDA candidate for Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman, ensuring a contest with the ruling Congress.
Congress MLA G S Patil and MLC Saleem Ahmed filed nominations for Assembly Speaker and Council Chairman respectively.
Elections for the two posts are scheduled for August 14, days after the expansion of the DK Shivakumar-led Cabinet.
The BJP decided to boycott the Speaker election; Leader of Opposition R Ashoka called Congress's announcement of its Speaker choice on the party letterhead 'unconstitutional.'
The opposition filed no candidate for Speaker, leaving Congress's G S Patil likely to be elected unopposed.
- Who
- Candidates G S Patil (Congress, Speaker), Saleem Ahmed (Congress, Council Chairman) and P H Pujar (BJP/NDA, Council Chairman), along with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and BJP Leader of Opposition R Ashoka
- What
- Elections for the Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman posts, contested for the Chairman post and boycotted by the BJP for the Speaker post
- When
- August 14, after nominations were filed the preceding Thursday
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Why
- Both posts fell vacant: U T Khader resigned as Speaker before joining the Shivakumar Cabinet on June 3, and Basavaraj Horatti resigned as Council Chairman after the ruling dispensation asked him to make way or face a no-confidence motion
Ruling Congress-led Karnataka government
Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine
Announcing the Speaker on the party letterhead
Ruling Congress-led Karnataka government
Congress fielded senior MLA G S Patil for Speaker and, with its majority in the House, he is likely to be elected unopposed.
Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine
BJP leader R Ashoka called Congress's practice of announcing the Speaker's name on its party letterhead before the election 'unconstitutional,' saying it strips the House of its sovereignty and the rights of elected representatives — prompting the BJP to boycott the election.
Contest for the Council Chairman post
Ruling Congress-led Karnataka government
Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed filed his nomination for Council Chairman as the ruling party's candidate.
Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine
The BJP-JD(S) combine fielded BJP MLC P H Pujar as the NDA candidate to ensure the Chairman's post is genuinely contested rather than going unopposed.
- Event
- Elections for Karnataka Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman
- Election date
- August 14
- Congress candidates
- G S Patil (Speaker), Saleem Ahmed (Council Chairman)
- Opposition candidate
- P H Pujar (NDA/BJP-JD(S) for Council Chairman)
- Opposition move
- BJP boycotted the Assembly Speaker election
- Likely outcome for Speaker
- G S Patil to be elected unopposed
- Speaker post vacancy
- U T Khader resigned ahead of cabinet induction on June 3
- Council Chairman vacancy
- Basavaraj Horatti resigned after being asked to make way or face a no-confidence motion