Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)
Belagavi, Dec 13: The choice of MLC, Pratap Chandra Shetty, as Chairman of the Legislative Council has stirred up a hornet's nest. S R Patil of the Congress, who was rest assured of the seat till the last minute, expressed anger at the party leadership. Basavaraj Horatti of JD(S), who was the pro tem chairman of the council and was billed to be the next council chairman, criticised chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, for toeing the line of Congress leadership and following the diktats of Congress party.
After the surprise news that Pratap Chandra Shetty was chosen ahead of them, both S R Patil and Basavaraj Horatti spewed venom at their respective leaders. They said that this development has gone to prove that this government is anti north Karnataka. It is said that Patil also expressed the view that Lingayat leaders are being purposefully sidelined.
S R Patil was sure of his elevation to the post of the council chairman, and he had reposed faith in the capability of former chief minister, Siddaramaiah to whom he is close. He is said to be disappointed at the discreet silence owned by Siddaramaiah after the last minute developments. Patil, who was deprived of a berth in the ministry too, wryly said that he was not made minister for his own good, as he had raised loan of three crore rupees during the three years he was minister in the previous cabinet.
The Lingayat legislators from the Congress are learnt to have questioned deputy chief minsiter, Dr G parameshwar, about the political equations behind zeroing on Pratap Chanda Shetty's candidature, Parameshwar is learnt to have told them that he had no hand in this exercise and he just is following what the high command has been telling him.
In the form of Pratap Chandra Shetty, Congress has got an opportunity to occupy this position after a gap of eight years. After Shetty's unanimous election to the post on Wednesday, deputy chief minsiter, Dr G Parameshwar, leader of the houseJayuamala, leader of the opposition, Kota Srinivas Poojary, and others praised the leadership skills and service mindedness of the new chairman.
Leader of the opposition in the assembly, B S Yeddyurappa, said that he is not interested in the internal issues concerning JD(S). He expressed happiness at the fact that Basavaraj Horatti has now realized the futility of the party leadership and advised him to be careful in his political moves.
Speaking to media persons, Horatti targetted chief minister Kumaraswamy for being a puppet chief minister and blindly following instructions of Congress leaders. He recollected that even in the choice of chief secretary and KPSC chairman, Kumaraswamy had approved the people chosen by Congress. He accused Congress of failing to follow the principles of coalition Dharma.
He said that the Congress had initially said they do not have any pre-conditions. "Congress is also not united. Siddaramaiah wanted to make S R Patil the chairman, but Parameshwar chose Pratap Chandra Shetty. I have asked my party leaders to question Congress about this move and the ground on which this was made," he said.