U.T. Khader, who is set to be inducted as a minister in the Congress government led by D.K. Shivakumar, has resigned as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Khader, the MLA representing the Mangaluru constituency, submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani.

He previously served as Health Minister during the first term of the Siddaramaiah-led government.

Career of U. T. Khader

U. T. Khader entered the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the first time by winning the 2007 by-election to Mangaluru (erstwhile Ullal) constituency following the death of his father, U. T. Fareed.

Mr. Fareed had represented the constituency (Ullal), as a member of the Congress, in 1972, 1978, 1999 and 2004.

Mr. Khader, 56, retained the seat in the 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2023 Assembly elections. He was the only MLA of the Congress to win in Dakshina Kannada in the 2018 elections.

Earlier, he had held the portfolios of Health and Family Welfare, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Urban Development and Housing. He served as Deputy Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly in 2022-23.

He was the 17th Speaker of the Assembly, and assumed office on May 24, 2023.