Shettar files nomination for Assembly Speaker's post

Bangalore, June 4 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagadish Shettar today filed nomination for the Assembly Speaker's post in presence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

With this the controversy surrounding Mr Shettar came to a close after he had rejected the party's offer to occupy the chair saying he would be kept away from active politics.

Mr Yeddyurappa had kept Mr Shettar out of cabinet on May 30, when he was sworn in as the Chief Minister along with 29 ministers.

Top leaders from party summoned Mr Shettar to New Delhi and were engaged in damage control excercise as Mr Shettar had openly criticised Mr Yedduyurappa and Party General Secretary Ananth Kumar for ignoring him at the time of cabinet formation.

After filing the papers, Mr Shettar, talking to newsmen, said 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 opposition Congress and Janata Dal(Secular) would cooperate with BJP to elect the Speaker unanimously.

The Assembly secretariat would announce the results tomorrow evening.

It is almost certain that Mr Shettar's name would be announced as the speaker as no one else had filed the papers from the opposition parties at the end of deadline fixed for filing nomination at 12 noon today.

UNI SR RS HVB1526