BENGALURU: Senior Congress MLA K B Koliwad was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Congratulating Koliwad, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar and other members described him as the most able person to occupy the post and conduct the House proceedings.

Koliwad succeeds Kagodu Thimmappa, who has been inducted into the Ministry as Revenue Minister by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the recent cabinet rejig.

The former minister, a five-time MLA from Ranebennur in Haveri district, has vast administrative experience, including that of working as head of various House Committees.

He is the head of the House Committee that is looking into encroachment of lakes in Bengaluru. The committee has completed its work and is in the process of finalising the report that will be tabled in the House.

Speaking after assuming the Speaker’s post, Koliwad assured the members that he would uphold the tradition and conduct the House proceedings in an impartial manner and sought cooperation from Opposition and ruling party members.