Basavaraj Horatti resigns as Karnataka Legislative Council Speaker after discussions with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and KPCC President BK Hariprasad
Basavaraj Horatti has resigned as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Council after discussions with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and KPCC President BK Hariprasad. Horatti stated that his resignation was voluntary. The government is expected to continue him as interim Speaker until further arrangements are made.
Bengaluru: Senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader Basavaraj Horatti has resigned as the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Council, bringing an end to the political developments surrounding the constitutional post. Horatti submitted his resignation after holding discussions with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President BK Hariprasad.
In his resignation letter, Horatti stated that he was stepping down from the post voluntarily. Sources indicate that the Karnataka government is likely to continue him as the interim Speaker until a new arrangement is made.
"I have resigned from the post voluntarily," Basavaraj Horatti stated in his resignation letter.
Basavaraj Horatti resigns after meetings with Congress leaders
The resignation followed a series of meetings held at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday. After the oath-taking ceremony of newly nominated Legislative Council member Gayatri Shantegowda, discussions took place in the Speaker's office involving Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, KPCC President BK Hariprasad, and other leaders.
Earlier in the day, Horatti had also visited the residence of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, leading to political speculation over the future of the Speaker's post.
According to sources, discussions between the Congress leadership and Horatti continued before he formally submitted his resignation.
Horatti explains reason for meeting Chief Minister
Horatti clarified that his visit to the Chief Minister's residence was to express gratitude for the cooperation extended during his tenure as Speaker.
He said he had visited DK Shivakumar's residence to thank him and rejected speculation surrounding the meeting.
"I went to DK Shivakumar's residence to thank him for the cooperation extended to me," Horatti said.
Basavaraj Horatti responds to Congress allegations
Horatti also responded to allegations raised by Congress leaders regarding his continuation as Speaker. He questioned why the issue was being raised now, stating that several Congress members had appreciated his functioning in the House.
According to Horatti, 23 Congress members had previously acknowledged his work as Speaker. He questioned the change in stand and asked what significance those earlier remarks held if different statements were now being made.
He had earlier announced that he intended to resign on August 14. However, following the discussions held on Thursday, he decided to step down before the previously announced date.
Government likely to continue Horatti as interim Speaker
With Horatti's resignation now submitted, the Karnataka government is expected to retain him as the interim Speaker until the process of appointing a new Legislative Council Speaker is completed.
The resignation concludes the developments that had continued over the Speaker's position following consultations between the ruling Congress leadership and Basavaraj Horatti.
