Horatti’s supporters pitch for cabinet berth for him

DHARWAD: Will the desire of teachers supporting MLC Basavaraj Horatti to see him inducted into the Kumarswamy cabinet in the coalition government be fulfilled?
This is the question being discussed in academic circles as teachers affiliated to various organizations and members of Association of Private Managements of Educational Institutions took out a silent march here on Saturday to press for the inclusion of Horatti into the cabinet.

The march started from Kadapa Maidan at noon and reached deputy commissioner’s office. The teachers handed over a memorandum to the DC addressed to chief minister Kumarswamy.

They have urged the CM to give Horatti the primary and secondary education portfolio, a position which he had held earlier. The teachers claimed that the primary and secondary education sector in the state was suffering from several complex problems since decades and it needs an experienced person well versed with the issues related to education to tackle them as a minister.

Chances bleak

Those who are watching the developments from close quarters feel that Horatti does not stand a chance as JD (S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda is in no mood to favour him.

“Deve Gowda, constrained to fill only two berths in the cabinet is not inclined to include Horatti. Instead he will prefer to make two MLAs ministers,” said a party leader close to the matter.

Soon after Horatti quit as the pro-tem chairman of the Legislative Council, he had openly called Kumaraswamy a ‘rubber stamp’ chief minister. “This irked Deve Gowda more than Kumarswamy,” said a senior JD(S) leader.

Horatti told STOI on Friday that he was not lobbying for the ministerial berth or any other position.

“I am elected by the teachers and will continue to work for the welfare of the teachers as MLC. I will not quit the party if not given a berth,” he said.