<p>BJP MLC MK Pranesh was elected as deputy chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday. </p>.<p>Pranesh won a second term by securing 39 votes against Congress’ Arun Kumar Arali with 26 votes. The JD(S), with eight members, remained neutral.</p>.<p>However, even before the election process commenced, there was a heated argument between JD(S) and Congress members.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/bjp-sangh-parivar-turning-coastal-karnataka-into-communal-laboratory-hariprasad-1118150.html" target="_blank"> BJP, Sangh Parivar turning coastal Karnataka into communal laboratory: Hariprasad</a></strong></p>.<p>Soon after the election procedure was announced, JD(S) MLC Bhoje Gowda accused the Congress of not fielding a candidate against Council chairperson Basavaraj Horatti due to caste considerations. “The Congress has fielded a candidate for the deputy chairperson’s post, but did not fight for the chairperson’s position because the BJP’s candidate belonged to an upper caste,” he said. </p>.<p>Leader of the Opposition BK Hariprasad retorted that the Congress did not field a candidate against Horatti due to his seniority and not caste. </p>.<p>Horatti found it distasteful and said, “Don't paint a caste colour on me. Many members in the House don’t even know what caste I belong to,” the Lingayat leader said. <br /> </p>
<p>BJP MLC MK Pranesh was elected as deputy chairperson of the Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday. </p>.<p>Pranesh won a second term by securing 39 votes against Congress’ Arun Kumar Arali with 26 votes. The JD(S), with eight members, remained neutral.</p>.<p>However, even before the election process commenced, there was a heated argument between JD(S) and Congress members.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/bjp-sangh-parivar-turning-coastal-karnataka-into-communal-laboratory-hariprasad-1118150.html" target="_blank"> BJP, Sangh Parivar turning coastal Karnataka into communal laboratory: Hariprasad</a></strong></p>.<p>Soon after the election procedure was announced, JD(S) MLC Bhoje Gowda accused the Congress of not fielding a candidate against Council chairperson Basavaraj Horatti due to caste considerations. “The Congress has fielded a candidate for the deputy chairperson’s post, but did not fight for the chairperson’s position because the BJP’s candidate belonged to an upper caste,” he said. </p>.<p>Leader of the Opposition BK Hariprasad retorted that the Congress did not field a candidate against Horatti due to his seniority and not caste. </p>.<p>Horatti found it distasteful and said, “Don't paint a caste colour on me. Many members in the House don’t even know what caste I belong to,” the Lingayat leader said. <br /> </p>