A.S. Ponnanna Misses Ministerial Berth, Gets Deputy Speaker's Role

Ponnanna, a first-time MLA from Virajpet and a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramiah, was among the names that figured prominently in speculation ahead of the Cabinet expansion.

Bengaluru/Virajpet: Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna, who was widely seen as a strong contender for a Cabinet berth in the D.K. Shivakumar-led Karnataka government, has been appointed as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after missing out on a ministerial position.

The Congress high command announced the appointment on Monday alongside the much-awaited expansion of the State Cabinet, ending days of intense deliberations and lobbying over the allocation of ministerial berths.

Ponnanna, a first-time MLA from Virajpet and a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramiah, was among the names that figured prominently in speculation ahead of the Cabinet expansion. However, the party opted to entrust him with the constitutional post of Deputy Speaker instead.

The Cabinet expansion comes nearly two months after D.K. Shivakumar assumed office as Karnataka Chief Minister following the Congress leadership's decision to replace Siddaramaiah as part of a leadership transition. Shivakumar was sworn in on June 3 along with an initial 13-member Council of Ministers, leaving several Cabinet positions vacant to accommodate a later expansion after consultations with the party's central leadership.

The Congress leadership held multiple rounds of discussions in New Delhi over the past week before finalising the expanded ministry and other key appointments.

Ponnanna did not secure a ministerial berth, and his appointment as Deputy Speaker means Kodagu and particularly Kodava community will not have a representative in the State Cabinet. The Deputy Speaker role is to preside over Assembly proceedings in the absence of the Speaker and plays an important role in the functioning of the House.

Ponnanna earlier served as the Legal Advisor to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with cabinet rank, and before that as the Additional Advocate General of Karnataka.

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