IN yet another big achievement, Shri Yeddyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka created a record by occupying the post of State Legislative Council Chairman for the first time in any southern state.
Senior BJP leader and fourth time MLC Shri DH Shankara Murthy was unanimously elected 24th Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council on July 5. Shri Murthy had filed his nomination for the post following the direction from party high command, after resigning from the post of Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board.
Born on April 30, 1940, Shri Shankara Murthy is BSc. He was imprisoned for 19 months in different Jails from Shimoga to Tihar Jail of Delhi during the Emergency period. The then veteran Jan Sangh leader Shri Jagannath Rao Joshi inspired him to join politics. Large size portraits of Shri Joshi and many other RSS leaders in his house indicate that he has high regards to the leaders who shaped his career.
Shri Shankara Murthy served as Minister for Higher Education in the previous JD(S)-BJP coalition government. He also served as Leader of Opposition in the Council. Shri Murthy, a highly knowledgable, soft spoken and well behaved worker, is considered to be an Ajatshatru in Karnataka politics as he does not have enemies and is respected both by younger generation and seniors from all the parties including Congress and JD-S. He is known for translating the speeches of Shri Vajpayee and Shri Advani during their public meetings in Karnataka. He cannot attend the party meetings after elevating himself to Chairman of the Council and he feels sorry about it. “The thought of remaining away from the party still hurts me. I will follow the party’s direction, as a sincere party worker. The party national president Shri Nitin Gadkari directed me to take up the new assignment and I will execute my new responsibility without any bias,” he said. BJP has 41 members in the 75 members Council while Congress has 18, JD-S 14 and there are two independent MLC’s. Interestingly, Shri Shankara Murthy, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and State BJP unit president Shri KS Eashwarappa hail from Shimoga district.
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