As both the Congress and the JD(S) are eyeing the post of Chairman of the Legislative Council, another potential tussle between the coalition partners is looming. The parties have just resolved disagreements over loan waiver and presenting a full-fledged State Budget.
Governor Vajubhai Vala has appointed MLC Basavaraj Horatti as the pro tem Chairman of the council, and he will continue till a new Chairman is elected. According to sources in the Congress, more than 20 legislators met the party’s general secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal on Friday and persuaded him to bargain for the posts of Chairman and Chief Whip of the ruling party, while leaving the post of Deputy Chairman to the JD(S).
Sources also told The Hindu that former Chief Minister and coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah was batting for senior member of the Upper House S.R. Patil, who quit as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president claiming moral responsibility for the party’s poor performance in his region, for the post of Chairman.
According to a senior JD(S) leader, the party is fighting to get the Chairman’s post for Mr. Horatti, a seven-time MLC. He argued that since the JD(S) sacrificed the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to the Congress, it was the moral duty of latter to reciprocate with a similar gesture. As the JD(S) has only one Cabinet berth left, here seems to be no chance for a JD(S) MLC to get into the Cabinet. Though Mr. Horatti had earlier refused to become Council Chairman and demanded a Cabinet berth, now he has reconciled to the situation and is prepared to accept the post.
Sources privy to coordination committee’s meeting said the issue did not figure in the meeting held on Sunday. Senior Congress MLCs, who are demanding berths for “at least four MLCs”, following the tradition of the Rajya Sabha, met here on Monday after the session and discussed ways to exert pressure on the party to get the berths as well as the post of Chairman. They are also upset with giving Cabinet berth and the post of floor leader to first-time MLC Jaimala.
Citing their numbers in the House, senior Congress MLCs are seeking the post of Chairman for Mr. Patil. It is also learnt that Mr. Venugopal has assured them of “getting justice”.
JD(S) leaders confirmed that the issue did not figure in the coordination committee meeting. “However, there is a possibility the committee will hold another round of discussions to take a final call on the issue,” he said.
A senior Congress leader said the new Chairman would be elected only after the presentation of a budget and efforts were on to convince the JD(S) to relent.
Entry restriction to lobby
Describing the position of pro tem Chairman as just nomenclature, Basavaraj Horatti on Monday said there was no communication on the election to the post of Chairman of the Legislative Council. “The process will begin only after getting direction from the office of the Governor and issuing the notification. Even if it were to be unopposed, the process,” he said.
“I will continue as pro tem Chairman [till then]. I have issued an order today on restricting entry of private secretaries and gunmen to the lobby of the Legislative Council. Principal secretary, secretary and deputy secretaries are only eligible to be seated in the officers’ gallery,” he said.