Bengaluru, Feb 9: JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti was elected as the new Chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday defeating Congress candidate.
The election took place in the midst of Congress leaders staging a protest in the Well of the House, against the passing of the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Bill. Congress argued that the Bill was passed in an 'undemocratic' manner overlooking their demand for the division of votes.
Notwithstanding their protest, the election was announced.
Even though Congress had fielded Naseer Ahmed, the party leaders refused to take part in the election process. As a result, the House declared Horatti as 'unanimously' elected.
Horatti was escorted to the Chairperson's seat and he took charge to his new post amidst a din. Congress leaders continued to stand in the Well of the House throughout the proceedings.
Horatti is a seven-time MLC, consecutively elected from Teachers' Constituency (West) since 1980. He has also served as the Science and Technology and Rural Development Minister in the Congress and JD(S) coalition government in 2004.
Later, in the 2006 BJP-JD(S) coalition, he held the Primary and Secondary Education, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios. He was nominated as pro-tem Chairperson of the Council for a brief period, during the Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2018.
In the 75 member house, BJP has strength of 31, Congress 28, JD(S) 13 one independent and one vacant.
BJP and JD(S) joined hands to defeat Congress candidate. The post fell vacant as Pratap Chand of Congress resigned after the ruling BJP moved a no confidence motion against him.
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