Minister for Kannada and Culture and Women and Child Development Jaimala on Monday took over the position of Leader of the House in the Legislative Council, after pro tem Chairman Basavaraj Horatti made a formal announcement based on the recommendation of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Mr. Horatti also announced the names of BJP leaders Kota Srinivas Poojari and Mahantesh Kavatagimath as the new Leader of the Opposition and Chief Whip of the party in the Council, respectively.
Ms. Jaimala was nominated as an MLC in June 2014. The actor-turned-politician is the lone woman Minister in the Janata Dal (S)-Congress coalition government. Her elevation as Minister, which provided her the opportunity to lead the government in the Legislative Council, had rankled many of her party colleagues, especially some senior MLCs. She even met the Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, K.C. Venugopal, on Sunday and explained the situation. However, she was assured of all support from the party on her leading the House, sources said. Ms. Jaimala said she would live up to the expectations of the party leadership.