No history of no-trust motion against chairman for lack of majority: Horatti

Belagavi: Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti said there is no precedent of moving a no-confidence motion against the chairman in the history of the Council over lack of majority, except once against D H Shankaramurthy for other reasons.

He was responding to the speculation about a no-confidence motion being moved against him.

Horatti said, “I have worked impartially. If a no-confidence motion has to be moved, that is left to the House. I have to obey the decision taken by the House.” 

Refuting the allegation of irregularities in direct recruitment of staff to the Council, he said that he would not occupy the chair even for a minute if misappropriation of even just one rupee was proved.

“The recruitment for 30 posts was conducted through Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) based on the examination and merit list. A committee also verified it,” he said. “Due respect was given to Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar during the Laxmi Hebbalkar-C T Ravi tussle in the Council. Though the House was adjourned, the matter was referred to the ethics committee,” he said in reply to allegations by Congress MLC M Nagaraju, challenging him to give proof in support of his charges.

Horatti felt that making first-time MLC M Nagaraju the chief of the privileges committee was a mistake.

“The MLC was not sent for training in Delhi at the government’s expense, as he had gone earlier. That may be the reason for him to level allegations. For the first time in the history of the Council, action was initiated against three staff members for their mistakes, and therefore, allegations against me are coming,” he said, adding that most of the members are satisfied with his “unbiased functioning style”. 

He said that the entire day of the Council, after Question Hour, would be reserved for discussion on North Karnataka issues on Dec 10 and 17 (Wednesdays).

He said the discussion on an issue related to the region would be allowed under an appropriate rule or a calling attention motion every day. Proceedings would not be adjourned till the agenda ends, he noted. According to sources, Horatti left for Bengaluru on Monday.