Hans News Service Bengaluru

Speculationover a possible change in the post of Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council gathered pace after the state announced the schedule for the monsoon session of the Legislature. However, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Thursday dismissed reports that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had asked him to resign.

The Karnataka Legislature’s monsoon session will be held from August 13 to August 27, spanning 10 sittings. Ahead of the session, political circles were abuzz with reports that the Congress government was considering replacing Horatti, who was elected to the constitutional post with the support of the BJP.

Clarifying the rumours, Horatti said the Chief Minister had only telephoned him to enquire about his health while he was admitted to hospital and that there was no discussion regarding his resignation. “If anyone asks me to resign, I will do so immediately. I am not someone who will cling to the chair,” Horatti said, adding that there was no question of stepping down merely because of speculation.

He pointed out that since the formation of Karnataka in 1956, successive Council Chairmen had completed their terms irrespective of changes in government. Horatti said his tenure extends until July 2028 and maintained that there was no constitutional or political reason for his removal.

“There is no precedent of a no-confidence motion being successfully moved against the Chairman. Two individuals are eyeing this post and are spreading rumours. But they will not become Chairman,” he remarked.

Horatti also defended his functioning, saying the office of the Chairman is a constitutional position that must function impartially regardless of political affiliations. He noted that he is among the longest-serving presiding officers in the country, with nearly five decades of legislative experience.

Questioning the basis for any move against him, Horatti said a no-confidence motion against a presiding officer would require valid grounds such as corruption, misconduct or partisan behaviour. “What allegation can be made against me? If someone wants to move a no-confidence motion, they must first establish that I violated constitutional norms or acted with bias,” he said.

The issue has, however, drawn a political response from the ruling Congress. Legislative Council member Nagaraj Yadav said Horatti’s recent political remarks were inappropriate for a person occupying a constitutional office.

Rejecting Horatti’s claim that no no-confidence motion had ever been moved against a Council Chairman, Yadav pointed out that such a motion had been initiated against former Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy in 2015.

He further argued that since Horatti was elected to the Chairman’s post with BJP support, it would be appropriate for him to step down after the change in political equations. According to Yadav, the Congress does not favour continuing with a Chairman elected with the backing of the opposition when the ruling party enjoys a majority.