Bengaluru: Even while CM DK Shivakumar and Congress brass strike to resolve the challenging issue of expanding the cabinet, another politically sensitive decision confronts Congress — finding a willing candidate who would don the speaker’s role in the legislative assembly.With UT Khader vacating the post after becoming health minister, the party faces an unusual dilemma. While it has several experienced legislators capable of presiding over the House, few are willing to accept the constitutional office.Unlike a cabinet berth which offers executive authority and political visibility, the speaker’s post demands neutrality and detachment from active politics. Recent confrontational assembly sessions have also made the role demanding, requiring impartial handling of disruptions, procedural disputes, and privilege issues.For many senior Congress MLAs awaiting ministerial positions, accepting the chair could effectively end their cabinet prospects for the remainder of the assembly’s tenure.Sources say a similar challenge arose after the 2023 assembly elections, but central party brass persuaded Khader to take the job with the assurance that he would be considered for a ministerial post later.Sources say former health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has emerged a frontrunner for the post, with top functionaries having largely convinced him to accept the responsibility, but a final decision is yet to be announced.Other senior legislators whose names have figured in discussions, including RV Deshpande, HK Patil and TB Jayachandra, are understood to have turned down the job. Sources say they are more interested in cabinet portfolios than the speaker’s chair.“The speaker’s office is one of the highest constitutional positions. Earlier, it was considered a prestigious post reserved for senior legislators with deep knowledge of parliamentary affairs. Today, many experienced MLAs believe they can contribute more as ministers than as presiding officers,” said some former speakers.Political analyst MN Patil said the challenge is not finding a qualified speaker but someone willing to sacrifice ministerial ambitions. “Decision makers will have to convince an experienced legislator that the constitutional office is as important as an executive one,” Patil said.Patil said the decision is closely linked to cabinet expansion. A senior elevated as speaker is one less contender for a ministerial berth, but it also alters the caste, regional and seniority balance Congress is trying to maintain while finalising its expanded ministry.
