Karnataka:Umashree running to Council

In Karnataka, lobbying is in full swing to grab the MLC seat. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is keen to bring his lieutenants to Legislative Council. As nomination process is in progress, he has tried his hands to get film actress and former minister Umashree, into the list in place of  Mansoor Ali Khan, the son of senior Congress leader K Rahman Khan. 

Governor sought details of corruption charges on Council nominees

The Governor's office is in receipt of complaints by Karnataka Rajya Muslim Jana Jagruthi Vedike and others against the proposed nominations of MR Seetharam, Mansoor Ali and Sudhama Das. Special Secretary to Governor R Prabhushankar has asked Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma "examine" the complaints. Also, there is opposition within Congress to nominate Sudhama Das given that his is a newbie in the party.

Muslims angry if removed:

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is insisting that his confidant Umashree be nominated as an MLC. This has made Muslim leaders miffed as she will replace someone from their community. After all, his selection or rejig will be final.  According to sources, the party had cleared the names of MR Seetharam (belongs to backward

classes), Mansoor Ali Khan (minorities) and former IRS officer Sudham Das (SC) long back for MLC nominations. Das from SC (left) is also facing severe opposition from his own community leaders. They are to be nominated by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in lieu of Mohan Kumar Kondajji, PR Ramesh and CM Lingappa whose terms have expired. Siddaramaiah is learnt to have managed to get Umashree, a former minister, into the list in place of Mansoor, the son of senior leader K Rahman Khan. The party's Muslim leaders wanted one MLC position for themselves as a reward to the community's solid support for the party in the May 10 Assembly elections."We were assured of an MLC position. Now, there's a feeling that the community has been taken for granted," one Muslim leader commented.

In the Assembly election, Congress gave tickets to 15 Muslims and nine won. In the 2018 Assembly election, the Congress fielded 17 Muslims of whom seven won. In the Cabinet, Muslims usually got three places. This time, they got two (Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rahim Khan). They also asked for a Muslim to be made the Bengaluru police commissioner, but brushed off. Muslim leaders pointed out that no one from their community was fielded in June when Jagadish Shettar, NS Boseraju and Thippannappa Kamaknoor were elected to the upper house. They are not particular about Mansoor Ali Khan. But they wanted a Muslim to be made an MLC. Now, they have to wait until next year when eight MLC seats will be up for grabs.