Farmers Movement Archive

Karnataka: Basavaraj Horatti to become council chairman with BJP backing

BENGALURU: The decks have been cleared for JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti to become chairman of the legislative council with BJP supporting his candidacy. The ruling party on Wednesday decided to field its MLC MK Pranesh for deputy chairman in the election slated for Friday. The post fell vacant following the death of SL Dharme Gowda of JD(S). The deal is that JD(S) would support BJP in the elections for deputy chairman and the ruling party would back the HD Deve Gowda-led party for the chairman’s post with Horatti being the front runner. The mutual support is required since no party enjoys a majority in the 75-member council The chairman’s post is expected to fall vacant as BJP has issued a fresh notice no-confidence motion against chairman K Pratapchandra Shetty (Congress). “Pranesh was finalised as the candidate,” said BJP MLC Lahar Singh Siroya after a meeting convened by chief minister BS Yediyurappa with BJP MLCs. “I’m happy the BJP has decided to support me for council chairman,” said Horatti after meeting Yediyurappa on Wednesday. The notice for the no-confidence motion will come up for consideration in February, following which Shetty is expected to either tender his resignation or fix a date for voting on the motion. The session will start with the governor’s address to the joint sitting on Thursday. The session scheduled till February 5 is expected to be stormy with opposition parties getting ready to corner the government on contentious issues including illegal quarrying, farm laws and the government’s failure to grant adequate relief to flood victims. The government is expected to table the anti-cow slaughter bill in the council, which both Congress and JD(S) oppose. The council could also see high drama over the interim report submitted by the special house committee on the ruckus in the house on December 15. It reportedly indicts ministers JC Madhuswamy and deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan. Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said 11 bills have been submitted for discussion. “All arrangements have been made keeping Covid-19 safety norms in mind,” said Kageri, adding that the budget session is expected to be held in March first week.

The Times of India

2021-01-28

Bengaluru