Karnataka Legislative Council chairperson Pratapchandra Shetty steps down

Legislative Council chairperson K Prathapachandra Shetty resigned on Thursday, ending days of suspense and paving the way for the BJP-JD(S) combine to take control of the Upper House.

He announced his resignation on the floor of the House before adjourning it for the day.

Shetty, a Congressman, was facing a no-confidence motion that was moved by the BJP, which had the support of the JD(S). Shetty stood no chance to defeat the motion as the BJP-JD(S) combine has enough numbers to ensure his unseating. He was elected chairperson in 2018 when the Congress and JD(S) were in a coalition.

That Shetty should resign came up for discussion in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held on Wednesday evening.

Senior JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti is likely to get elected as the chairperson with the help of the BJP. Together, both parties have 43 MLCs in the 75-member Council.

Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, the BJP's floor leader, is learnt to have sought an extension of the ongoing Council session so that a new chairperson can be elected on February 8 or 9. The session is scheduled to end Friday.

Thanking all MLCs for their support during his tenure as chairperson, Shetty said that they should introspect to prevent incidents such as the December 15 ruckus.

"While it’s true that all decisions in a democratic set up should be taken based on numerical strength, it is very important that the decisions taken as chairperson should be pro-farmer and in support of downtrodden communities, women and others. I am confident that all the decisions taken by me were in favour of such groups,” he said. “But it is unfortunate that due to such decisions, there were aspersions cast on the Constitutional post," Shetty said.

He also lamented that it was unfortunate that the strength of the House was the only parameter to elect the chairperson. "It should not be so," he said, adding that it would set a wrong precedent and make it difficult for the smooth functioning of the House.

"Due to a game based on numbers, an unpleasant incident took place in the Council, which has hurt me deeply," he said, adding that he had not eyed any position of power in his political career spanning 37 years.