In the previous government, Ponnanna was then chief minister Siddaramaiah’s legal adviser.

A S Ponnanna / Credit: DH File Photo 

Bengaluru:

Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna, whom the Congress had picked as its nominee for deputy speaker in the Assembly, was appointed Wednesday as Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s political secretary with a Cabinet rank.

Ponnanna, a first-time MLA, was sulking after being chosen for the deputy speaker’s position instead of a ministerial position. In the previous government, Ponnanna was then chief minister Siddaramaiah’s legal adviser.

Now, the Congress may propose former minister Mankal Vaidya for the deputy speaker’s position. Vaidya, who belongs to the Mogaveera (fishermen), was dropped from the list of Cabinet inductees at the last minute, replaced by SS Mallikarjun.

Meanwhile, senior Congress lawmaker RV Deshpande has been re-appointed as chairperson of the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission with a Cabinet rank. This makes him the only Brahmin holding a Cabinet-rank position.

On Wednesday evening, Shivakumar held a meeting with his deputy G Parameshwara, Karnataka Congress president BK Hariprasad, ministers KJ George, MB Patil, KH Muniyappa, UT Khader, Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, former speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and former Legislative Council chairperson VR Sudarshan to discuss strategy for the upcoming legislature session.

According to sources, Shivakumar said in the meeting that he would helm the government’s defence over the Oppostion’s attack on the Bidadi township project.

Shivakumar also urged lawmakers to back Planning Minister B Nagendra, whose induction will be questioned by the Opposition BJP and JD(S) for the Bellary MLA faces corruption allegations.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by Bharath Joshi / August 12th, 2026