Horatti’s resignation triggers political storm in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Legislative Council Speaker Basavaraj Horatti’s resignation has become a subject of intense discussion. He had planned to step down inside the House on August 14 after expressing gratitude to members, yet resigned abruptly allegedly on the advice of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

The development has sparked political charges and counter-charges. Horatti has now addressed a letter to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot setting out the full background of his decision. In the communication, Horatti states that he intended to call a Council session on August 14, thank the members and only then resign. The Chief Minister, however, allegedly directed him to resign on August 7 itself.

Following the oath-taking of a new MLC, the Chief Minister, the KPCC President and several MLCs entered his official chamber and reportedly instructed him to resign that very day. The sequence of events proved unexpected and left him astonished, he claimed.

Separately, a BJP and JDS delegation met the Governor and complained that Horatti had been compelled to resign. They argued that the resignation was not presented according to House procedure and therefore should not be accepted.

The delegation also drew the Governor’s attention to the appearance of Speaker and Deputy Speaker names on Congress letterhead. With the ruling Congress holding a majority in the 75-member Legislative Council and preparing to claim the Speaker’s post, the letters from both Horatti and the opposition delegation have assumed significance.