Mangaluru: MLA Vedavyas Kamath accuses speaker Khader of undermining dignity of office, overstepping role

Mangaluru: MLA Vedavyas Kamath accuses speaker Khader of undermining dignity of office, overstepping role

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 17, 2025: Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath has levelled serious allegations against Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, claiming that Khader is functioning more like the district in-charge minister rather than upholding the dignity of his constitutional post.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP office in Mangaluru, Kamath said, “The responsibility of the district in-charge minister is being taken up by Speaker Khader. A person who becomes Speaker must resign from party membership and distance himself from political activities. But Khader has lowered the dignity of his position.”

He alleged that in the last 75 years, no Speaker has behaved in such a manner. “Speakers like Koliwada and Bopayya maintained the honour of the chair. But Khader speaks about red laterite stone and census issues, which is inappropriate. It appears as if Khader wants to run the district administration in the name of Gundurao. Let Gundurao administer the district or let Khader remain Speaker — both cannot happen together,” Kamath challenged.

On the red laterite stone issue, Kamath said Khader has been claiming for the past three months that the problem has been resolved, but no solution is visible on the ground. “When we protest, you dismiss it saying BJP has no work. Instead of the district in-charge minister calling meetings and giving updates, it is the Speaker who issues information. You said 25 people have been given leases — then has the red stone problem been solved?” Kamath questioned.