MLC for four decades, Horatti will now monitor Upper House

He says that he will make an effort to bring reforms to the manner in which the Legislative Council is conducted

From disciplining the school as a physical education teacher four decades ago, seven-time JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti will now monitor the Legislative Council as its chairperson.

The senior JD(S) leader started his career as PE teacher at Lamington High School in Hubballi in 1975. Having taken part in activism for teachers’ rights, he was first elected as an MLC from the Teachers’ constituency (West) in 1980.

Ever since he has been consecutively elected as an MLC from the constituency for 41 years. Horatti has also served as a minister. He was the Science and Technology and Rural Development minister in the Congress and the JD(S) coalition government in 2004. Later, in the 2006 BJP-JD(S) coalition, he held the Primary and Secondary Education, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios. He was nominated as pro-tem chairperson of the Council for a brief period, during the Congress-JD(S) coalition, in 2018.

Read | Basavaraj Horatti elected Karnataka Council Chairperson amid uproar

Speaking on the occasion, Horatti recalled how former chief minister Gundu Rao had encouraged him to join politics. Speaking to media persons later, he said that he will make an effort to bring in reforms in the manner in which the Legislative Council was conducted, from the very next session.

“Of late, I am unhappy with the proceedings in the House,” he said. He will conduct a meeting with all the floor leaders and will ensure that the rules of the House are followed, he added.

“Be it when the House commences or the Question Hour, I will ensure that the schedule is maintained,” he assured. The state government spends anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 4 lakh per question, for ensuring replies to the questions raised in the Council. The time spent on questions must ensure justice to the public at large, he added.

The senior JD(S) leader is believed to have an amicable relationship among members of all parties. Upon him taking charge, several ruling party leaders and JD(S) MLCs called him an “undisputed leader” when it came to teachers’ constituency.

“He is so committed to addressing the problems faced by teachers that he is an undisputed leader. When we seek votes from our well wishers, they tell us that they will vote for BJP in any other election, but will vote only for Horatti when it comes to teachers’ constituency polls,” Medium and Large Scale Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said.