Karnataka: Legislative Council chairman Shankarmurthy to don a new hat soon

Bengaluru: Legislative Council chairman, D.H. Shankarmurthy, of the BJP is getting ready to leave Karnataka and assume the responsibility of Governor of a south Indian state.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Mr. Shankarmurthy confirmed his imminent departure, saying he was summoned to Delhi a couple of weeks ago by BJP national president, Amit Shah and asked to take on the new responsibility.

" Our party president called me to Delhi and told me about the party’s decision to make me Governor. I have accepted the offer," he said. As he has asked for appointment to a South Indian state, he could be made either Governor of Tamil Nadu or Telangana as the position is vacant in both states, according to sources.
Mr. Shankarmurthy will be the second BJP leader from Karnataka to occupy the post of Governor after Justice Rama Jois, who was Governor of Jharkhand and Bihar during the NDA regime.

Unanimously appointed as chairman of the Upper House in July 2010, the BJP leader’s term in the council is expected to end on August 30 this year as he is likely to be appointed Governor by the end of the month. His name was doing the rounds for a Governor’s post even last year, but the party’s Central leadership dropped the proposal at the time.

Council member and opposition chief whip, Ganesh Karnik, who accompanied Mr. Shankarmurthy to Delhi two weeks ago, said he was happy he was being made Governor as he had rich experience in public life and very sound knowledge of legislative procedures.