Karnataka to elect new Speaker, Chairman; BJP to boycott Speaker poll

Senior Congress legislators GS Patil and Saleem Ahmed filed nominations for Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Council, with elections set for Friday. The BJP announced it will boycott the Speaker election, alleging the Congress unconstitutionally named its candidate on party letterhead. Patil is expected to win unopposed, while the Council Chairman post faces a contest with NDA's PH Pujar.