Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 9: The JD(S) has adopted a new strategy as far as handling the issue of changing the chairman of the legislative council is concerned. The party leaders have conveyed to the Congress leaders that the party will oppose the no-confidence move against the council chairman by the BJP only if the Congress is agreeable to allow JD(S) to take the said post. Currently, Congress leader K Prathapchandra Shetty is occupying this seat.

The BJP had given two weeks advance notice of its intention to move a no-confidence motion against Shetty and the decks are clear now to move a resolution. It is said that some Congress MLCs have discussed with the JD(S) leaders about the continuance of the existing understanding in which the post of the deputy is given to the JD(S). Reportedly the JD(S) leaders said that they will back out from supporting the no-confidence motion only if the Congress cedes the post of the chairman to their party.

H D Kumaraswamy

The Congress leaders had requested Prathapchandra Shetty not to resign in response to the no-confidence motion till the JD(S) clarified its position. The Congress leaders wanted to question the secular credentials of the JD(S) if it wanted to go with the BJP. It is said that 12 out of 14 MLCs of the JD(S) have told that they will oppose the motion only if their MLC Basavaraj Horatti is made the council chairman. Even though some Congress leaders are willing to negotiate the matter with Horatti, many who are frustrated by the recent stands of the JD(S) are against having anything to do with that party, sources said.

It is said that Congress will bide time as they point out that the no-confidence motion proposed by the BJP does not need to be taken up immediately as the council chairman has discretion in the matter.

Chief whip of the opposition in the council M Narayanaswamy said that efforts to unseat the council chairman are unjustified as he has never taken any partisan decisions so far.