Atheist Shettar to be sworn in minister today

Jagadish Shettar, who could not have much of a say during the recent rebellion in the BJP as he was the assembly speaker, is set to get his political voice back. He quit as speaker on Monday and will be sworn in as Cabinet minister at 11.30 am on Tuesday, in a move that will restore his voice as a Lingayat leader of considerable clout in North Karnataka.

Usually, politicians abstain from taking the oath on a Tuesday as it is considered inauspicious. But Shettar, who is an atheist, has decided to take the oath today at Raj Bhavan from Governor HR Bharadwaj.

Shettar’s resignation also means that a hunt has begun within the ruling BJP for a suitable person to the prestigious but “no-takers” post. Deputy speaker Bhopaiah will be in charge for some time.

The high command is believed to have suggested Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri for the speaker’s post, but Kageri is reluctant as he feels that he is too young to keep off active politics. Another person in the list of probables is PWD minister CM Udasi, who has emerged as an alternative power centre in North Karnataka challenging Shettar’s authority. Shettar is now said to be eyeing the powerful PWD portfolio.