Senior Congress leader H K Patil on Thursday returned the recognition accorded to him as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council by the Chairman of the Upper House.  A letter to this effect has been submitted to Council Chairman B K Chandrashekar.

Mr Patil had returned all the facilities provided to him by the government (equivalent to that enjoyed by a Cabinet rank minister) on January 2.  The BJP had raised a hue and cry against Mr Patil for continuing as Leader of the Opposition in the Council even after the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly and imposition of President’s rule in the State. When asked the reason  for delay in taking a decision, he said he wanted a healthy discussion to take place on the issue.