Congress MLA Gurupadagouda Sanganagouda Patil was elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on August 14.

Popularly known as G. S. Patil, his name was proposed by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and seconded by Deputy CM G. Parameshwara.

Pro-tem Speaker T. B. Jayachandra, who presided over the proceedings, declared Mr. Patil elected after a voice vote.

The opposition BJP and JD(S) boycotted the election of the Speaker.

The post fell vacant following the resignation of U. T. Khader ahead of his induction into the Shivakumar-led Council of Ministers on June 3.

Mr. Patil is a four-time MLA from the Ron Assembly constituency in Gadag district.

A member of the Lingayat community, he previously served as chairperson of the Karnataka Mineral Development Corporation and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited.

Senior Member of Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed was elected as Chairperson of the Upper House on August 14. Seniormost member and former chairperson Basavaraj Horatti, whose resignation caused the vacancy, was among those who greeted the Congress leader following the election.

Opposition boycotts proceedings

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka said the BJP and JD(S) had decided to boycott the Speaker election in protest against the ruling Congress "unconstitutionally" naming the new Speaker on its official letterhead.

He accused the Congress of starting a new tradition in the country and the State by announcing the Speaker's name on its party letterhead, thereby undermining the sovereignty of the House and the rights of its elected representatives.

He was referring to the Congress high command's letter to CM D. K. Shivakumar on August 3, which contained the names of 19 ministers to be inducted into his Cabinet.

The letter also contained the names of the party's nominees for the post of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Chairperson, and Deputy Chairperson of the Council.

Mr. Ashok had also made it clear that once the Speaker was elected, the BJP and JD(S) would accord the Speaker's chair and office all due respect.

Ahead of the Speaker's election, the CM introduced his new Cabinet ministers to the House.

This is the first Assembly session after the Shivakumar-led Cabinet took charge.

Published - August 14, 2026 11:52 am IST