Congress MLA Shivanand Patil adjudged best legislator of state

Bangalore, Jan 20 (UNI) Congress Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Basavana-Bagewadi in Bijapur district has emerged as the 'Essel Karnataka's Best Legislator.' Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa conferred the award to the legislator, on behalf of the group, at a function here this morning.

This is the first in the series of awards instituted by the group in the state.

Speaking on the ocassion, Mr Patil said such awards would serve as a morale booster to a legislator to further dedicate to the cause of the poor and weaker sections of the society.

The process of selecting the best legislator began in December.

Nearly 100 nominations were received from the legislators and their well wishers. A committee comprising senior journalists short listed 16 legislators from among the nominations. The list of short listed candidates was in turn placed before an eminent jury headed by Justice M F Saldhana which selected five finalists. They were Jayaprakash Hegde, Motamma, A T Ramaswamy, Shivanand Patil and Vishewswar Hegde Kageri. The public was invited to choose one among them as the best legislator through tele-voting. Mr Patil secured the highest number of votes.

Several legislators who had rendered service to the state were also felicitated. They were Mallikarjuna Kharge, the longest serving member with eight times, Vatal Nagaraj, the longest serving independent member and Krishna Byregowda, one of the youngest member of the Assembly.

Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra could not make it to the function following bereavement in the family.

UNI