Ramesh Kumar elected Karnataka Assembly Speaker

Congress’ K.R. Ramesh Kumar was on May 25 unanimously elected the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, after BJP candidate S. Suresh Kumar pulled out of the race, in a major victory for the JD(S)-Congress coalition before Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy faced the floor test.

Shortly before the start of the proceedings, Mr. Suresh Kumar said he was withdrawing his nomination following a direction from the BJP leadership.

“On the directions of our party, I had filed the nomination for the post of Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Now, after discussion in the party, it is felt that the Speaker has to be elected unanimously following the parliamentary traditions. I’m withdrawing my nomination,” Mr. Suresh Kumar tweeted.