In his first visit to Karnataka after taking charge, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay arrived at Mangaluru International Airport on June 12 afternoon, on his way to Kolluru Mookambika Temple in Udupi district.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader greeted him at the airport with officials of Dakshina Kannada administration.

The officials presented him with two books at the airport.

Later, he left by road to Kolluru.

Speaker U.T. Khader said here on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) that the Congress high command has so far not asked him to join the new Cabinet to be headed by D.K. Shivakumar.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Khader said if the party wants him to continue as Speaker he will continue to do so.

“If I am asked to work as minister in the new Cabinet or continue as an MLA, I am happy to do so. I will act as per the directions of Congress high command,” he said.

Speaker may resign

However, people close to Mr. Khader said he is set to tender his resignation to the post of Speaker and join the new cabinet on Wednesday (June 3). Mr. Khader is set leave for Bengaluru from Mangaluru on June 2 evening. Since Monday (June 1), party workers and Mr. Khader’s admirers have been meeting and congratulating him after hearing that he is among the ministers to be sworn-in on June 3.

Asked about controversy surrounding the audio tape purportedly related to minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, over sabotaging the prospects of the Congress candidate in the recently held Assembly bypolls in Davangere, clearing his (Mr. Khader’s) way into the new Cabinet as a representative from the minority community, Mr. Khader said there is no competition between him and Mr. Khan on becoming ministers in the new Cabinet.

Mr. Khader said becoming a minister helps in doing works related to people in a more effective way. As a Speaker, he works more for the legislators. “While working as a Speaker, I have ensured to work for people of my (Mangaluru Assembly) constituency and take up development projects. When in my constituency, people forget that I am in the post of Speaker, which comes with a set of protocols,” he said.