I had decided to resign, but have dropped the idea: Horatti

Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti has been in the news after his talk of resignation and pain over developments on the floor of the House. In an interview with The Hindu at his residence in Hubballi on Monday, amid continuous phone calls from leaders, he spoke his mind.

Mr. Horatti, who has good rapport with all political parties, was candid about the developments which forced him to think of resignation. However, he clarified that although he intended to send his signed resignation letter, it did not reach Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Pranesh as he had left Bengaluru for his native place. “The signed resignation letter is with me now. Although I had decided to resign, I have not tendered my letter yet,” he clarified.

However, Mr. Horatti is not firm on tendering the resignation as he has been receiving calls from political leaders, officials, and well-wishers asking him to reconsider his decision. The callers include the Governor, Chief Minister, Leader of the House in the Council Boseraju and Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and various Ministers. “Now, I am finding it hard to go ahead with my earlier decision. Considering the advice of seniors and well-wishers, I am considering dropping the thought,” Mr. Horatti said.

On what made him consider resigning, he said he was pained by the developments in the House and also by non-cooperation to the reforms brought in the Council Secretariat, including framing of the C&R rules. “But what pains me most is the developments on the floor of the House. The decorum is least cared for and Bills are getting passed without constructive discussion. I have expressed this on several occasions. But, things don’t seem to change,” he said.

Mr. Horatti categorically denied that his decision has anything to do with the change in the party composition in the Council ahead of the forthcoming new nominations. “There is no such development. Puttanna called me to urge not to resign and clarified that he is not eyeing the position.  Moreover, I have made it clear that even if there is a hint of moving no-confidence motion against me, I will step down on my own,” he said.