Govt. finalises four names for nomination to Legislative Council

After months of delay, the Congress government is learnt to have finalised four persons to be nominated for vacant seats in the Legislative Council.

Ramesh Babu, a former MLC from Janata Dal (Secular), K. Shivakumar, journalist, Arati Krishna, chairperson of KPCC NRI Cell, and F.H. Jakkappanavar, Dalit activist, are learnt to have been finalised by the Congress. Earlier, a list sent by the KPCC is learnt to have been rejected by party Central leaders.

The above seats in the 75-member Upper House had fallen vacant owing to the completion of the term of Congress members U.B. Venkatesh and Prakash Rathod in October 2024 and Janata Dal (S) member K.A. Thippeewamy in February 2025. One seat had fallen vacant as C.P. Yogeshwar, the then BJP member resigned to contest on a Congress ticket from Channapatna in the Assembly bypolls, which he eventually won.

Mr. Babu is currently the party spokesperson. Ms. Arathi is the daughter of former Minister Begane Ramaiah, who passed away recently. Mr. Jakkappanavar is a trade union leader. Mr. Shivakumar is a journalist from Mysuru.

In the Legislative Council, BJP has 33 seats, JD (S) 7, and the Congress 29. The House also has an Independent besides the Chairman. After the above nominations, the strength of the Congress will increase to 33.