Mankal Vaidya elected unopposed as Karnataka Assembly Deputy Speaker
Mankal Vaidya, a Congress MLA from Bhatkal, has been elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The election proceeded without opposition from the BJP, despite their initial boycott of the process.
Why it matters
The appointment reflects internal power dynamics within the Karnataka government and the legislative process of the state assembly.
Two-time MLA Mankal Vaidya of the Congress was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Mr. 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.
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