Bangalore: Former Minister Krishna of JD-S, which has formed the State's first-ever coalition Government with the Congress, was today (Jun 10, 2004) unanimously elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The lone motion proposing the name of Krishna was carried when the pro-tem speaker R V Deshpande put it to vote, which the House approved amid thumping of desks.

Under a power-sharing deal, the Congress had agreed to give the Speaker's post to JD(S), apart from plum portfolios. Krishna is a three-time MLA.

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Chief Minister N Dharam Singh moved the motion, which was seconded by Water Resources Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congratulating Krishna, Singh said the unanimous election became possible after Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), the principal Opposition party, agreed to extend support.

Singh, in his felicitation said, with the voters giving a complex verdict in the assembly elections, it had become inevitable to form a coalition Government and assured the dispensation would provide a responsive administration.

He described Krishna as a soft man and expressed confidence that he would uphold the dignity of the House, as he hailed from socialist movement.

Opposition BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah, Kharge and Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs minister M P Prakash wished him success, with members cutting across party lines felicitating him.