Bengaluru: After a lot of dilly-dallying between the Congress and the JD(S), the Karnataka government on Tuesday unanimously chose the grand old party’s MLC K Pratap Chandra Shetty as the Chairman of the Legislative Council, a decision that has been heavily criticised by acting chairman Basavaraj Horatti of the JD(S).
On Wednesday, an irked Horatti slammed the Congress for pressuring chief minister Kumaraswamy to take decisions in their favour. "The Congress had not won absolute majority, they needed our support. Before the alliance, they said they would give unconditional support but now, for every decision, they put conditions. The CM has been reduced to merely signing and stamping documents," he said.
Horatti and Siddaramaiah loyalist SR Patil were the frontrunners for the Chairman’s post but on Tuesday, it was Kundapura MLC Shetty who was asked to file his nomination.
Horatti's statement could create more ripples in the coalition where several Congress MLAs have earlier expressed their displeasure over the delay in cabinet expansion. Speaking about the lack of unity within the Congress, he said, "Siddaramaiah wanted Patil, but Parameshwara chose Shetty."
Shetty, who hails from the coastal district of Udupi, has been a four-time MLA and this is his second stint as MLC. He enjoys the support of veteran Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily and it is these senior leaders who reportedly lobbied with JD(S) supremo HD Devegowda to agree to Shetty's name for the position. Meanwhile, Patil said he wished the new chairman good luck. He said, "I have never lobbied for a position of berth with my party".
The Opposition, however, was quick to make most of the situation. BJP MLA R Ashok said the JD(S) would soon learn of the Congress 'shock treatment'. "They (Congress) have ill-treated Basavaraj Horatti. I wonder how JD(S) leaders will react to what Horatti said about the CM. Had the BJP made such a statement, it would have been made into a big issue".
Another BJP MLA and former CM Jagdish Shettar gave the issue a north-south colour. "Ignoring Horatti for chairmanship is a shock, it is great injustice towards the people of North Karnataka. Even Patil was ignored. This move could cost the government in the future", Shettar said.
Shetty's chairmanship could also be seen as the coalition’s attempt to get coastal votes in the run-up to 2019. With this appointment, all the key positions in the Council will be held by the people hailing from coastal Karnataka.
Comments
0 comment