Bengaluru, 5 August

Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti said that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar phoned him and requested his resignation. But Horatti said he would decide after discussing with BJP and JD(S) leaders.

He added that electing the Council Chairman and Assembly Speaker is the prerogative of the House, not a political party. Horatti was elected during the previous BJP government. The eight-term MLC’s current term ends only in July 2028.

During Shivakumar’s Cabinet expansion, the Congress High Command approved Saleem Ahmed as the nominee for Chairman of the Legislative Council and Umashree for Deputy Chairperson.

"This is probably the first time I have seen a party declaring the Chairperson of the Legislative Council. I'm not sure how they are doing it. It is not good in a democracy," Horatti said. “To remove the Chairman, 10 members must give 14 days' advance notice to move the no-confidence motion. Based on the discussion in the House, the matter will be decided." 

In the 75-member legislative council, the Congress has 38 members, the BJP 24, the JD(S) 6, with one Independent member and one chairman, while five seats are vacant.