BANGALORE: In a surprise move, 16 newly-elected MLAs skipped in Vidhana Soudha on May 23 to take oath as members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. A total of 208 MLAs took oath on May 22-23.

R.V. Deshpande, the pro-tem speaker, informed the House that 16 newly-elected MLAs could not vote in the Wednesday, May 24, election for speaker because they did not appear in the House to take the oath of office.

In order for them to participate in the election for Speaker, he pleaded with the 16 members to come to his chamber by day's end to take the oath. He then adjourned the House for the day. U.T. Khader, a five-time MLA, submitted his nomination papers on May 23 and is anticipated to be chosen speaker by a vote of all members on May 24.

The majority of the MLAs took their oaths in the name of God on May 23. Sharanu Salagar, who represents the Basavakalyan Assembly seat, took the oath in the names of Shivaji and Basaveshwara, while Harish Poonja of the BJP, who was elected from the Belthangady constituency in the Dakshina Kannada district, did so in the name of Sri Ramachandra.

In the name of the local deity of his constituency, B.Y. Vijayendra of the BJP (Shikaripura) took the oath. Congresswoman Laxmi Hebbalkar took an oath in Basaveshwara's honour. In the name of the electorate, G.K. Venkata Shivareddy of the JD(S), who represents Srinivaspura in the Kolar district, and Udaya K.M. of the Congress, who represents Maddur, took the oath.

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