BANGALORE: With five Congress members of the Legislative Council retiring in June, the ruling Janata Dal (Secular) Bharatiya Janata Party coalition is expected to hold elections for the Chairman's post only after the retirements.

At present, the ruling coalition does not have majority in the Council.

In the 75-member Upper House, the Congress has 40 seats, the JD (S) and the BJP have 14 each, the Janata Dal (United) has three and there are four independent members.

The five MLCs who will retire on June 20, 2007 are Prabhakar B. Kore, B.A. Hasanabba, L. Hanumanthaiah, Umashri, and M.D. Rameshraju.

The post of Chairman has been vacant after the retirement of V.R. Sudarshan of the Congress. Deputy Chairman Sachidanand Khot officiated as Chairman during the special session of the council held in Belgaum last year.

Panel to officiate

Legislative Council secretary K. Jayashankaramurthy told presspersons here on Tuesday that with Mr. Khot yet to fully recover after being injured in a car accident in Belgaum recently, a panel of members would officiate as Chairman and conduct the proceedings of the Council, which will be in session from Thursday.

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