Shettar files nomination for Speaker's post

Bangalore, June 4: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagdish Shettar today filed nomination papers for the Legislative Assembly Speaker's post in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, putting an end to the controversy over his ''sidelining''.

Mr Yeddyurappa had kept Mr Shettar out of the 30-member Cabinet on May 30, when he took oath. Mr Shettar had openly criticised Mr Yedduyurappa and party General Secretary H N Ananth Kumar for ignoring him during Cabinet formation and rejected the party's offer to occupy the Speaker's post saying he would be kept away from active politics.

As a damage control exercise, top leaders of the party had summoned Mr Shettar to New Delhi and convinced him to accept the post.

After filing the papers, Mr Shettar told newspersons that he was filing the papers voluntarily and would discharge the duties responsibly if elected to the post.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who was also present, said Mr Shettar, with his experience, would be able to guide the members more effectively. He hoped that the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) would cooperate with the BJP to elect the Speaker unanimously.

The Assembly Secretariat would announce the results tomorrow evening.

It is likely that Mr Shettar would be announced as the Speaker as no one else from the Opposition parties had filed the papers at the end of the deadline for filing nomination at 12 noon today.

UNI