The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Many articulate leaders missing

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Many articulate leaders missing

T.S. Ranganna

Several seasoned legislators defeated

BANGALORE: The 13th Legislative Assembly in many respects would be poorer as compared to the previous House, especially for the Opposition benches.

The veterans among all the Opposition parties, barring a few, have been defeated in the just concluded Assembly elections, leaving the responsibility of facing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the House to a few seniors in the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

Stalwarts, right from the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, who held the position of the Leader of Opposition in the previous Assembly, to several Congress leaders such as R.V. Deshpande, K.R. Ramesh Kumar, a former Speaker and minister have lost.

M.P. Prakash and D.B. Chandre Gowda, who served as Law and Parliamentary Affairs ministers, too could not return to the Assembly.

The House would also miss the fact-packed speeches of the lone Communist Party of India (Marxist) member G.V. Srirama Reddy, the ever-vigilant Vatal Nagaraj, K. Rajendran of the Republican Party of India, who used to add spice to the debate. Jayaprakash Hegde (Independent), who was known to be strong on constitutional issues, will be missed.

Whatever talent remains in the truncated Opposition would be that of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge, known for his sobriety, the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is good in parliamentary repertoire and D.K. Shivakumar, a recent occupant of the front benches.

Mr. Nagaraj, who entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1967, would be sorely missed.

Mr. Nagaraj was a powerful speaker on matters concerning the inter-State disputes on water and border and safeguarding the interests of Kannada and Kannadigas and had a deep concern for Bangalore city.

The highly qualified G. Parameshwara, who has a doctorate from Adelaide University, and V. Srinivasa Prasad, a former Union Minister and a first-time MLA are likely to improve the proceedings.

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