JDS to support BJP's anti-cow slaughter Bill in Karnataka Council

Bengaluru, Jan 28: Senior JD(S) MLC Basavarj Horatti on Thursday said that his party will support the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill in the Karnataka Legislative Council, where it is yet to be passed after it was moved in the Legislative Assembly.

This is contrary to the regional party's earlier stand to oppose the bill.

Both JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy, who is the legislature party chief, had repeatedly said they are opposed to the anti-cow slaughter bill.

"Now, there is no question of defeating the bill," Horatti told reporters in response to a question about JD(S) supporting the bill.

"Naturally, it the Council whenever the government changes, it's a question of the majority.If important bills are there, they'll be passed...JD(S) and the BJP have a total of 43 members (in the 75-member Council), so no question of defeating the bill.We will support the bill 100 per cent," he said.

This statement by Horatti about supporting the bill comes a day after JD(S) joined hands with the ruling BJP for the Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman post.

As per the arrangement, the BJP will support the JD (S) for the Chairman post, while the regional party will return the favour by ceding the Deputy Chairman post.

While Horatti will most likely be the JD(S) candidate for the Chairman post, BJP's nominee M K Pranesh today filed his nomination for the Deputy Chairman post, which had fallen vacant following suicide by Deputy Chairman Dharmegowda recently.