From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 15: The combined efforts of ruling BJP and opposition JD(S), which is cozying up to the saffron party notwithstanding its secular credentials, to unseat Congress party’s senior leader K Pratapchandra Shetty from the Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman’s post through a no-confidence motion came a cropper and the House was adjourned sine die without transacting any business amid uproarious scenes and utter chaos.

As a result of the confusion and the inability of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa backed by JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy to remove Shetty from the post of the Chairman of the Upper House, the new-found bonhomie between BJP and JD(S) to upstage the Congress party failed miserably and Pratapchandra Shetty would continue in his post.

Karnataka Legislative Council (file photo)

Utter chaos prevailed in the Karnataka Legislative Council on the issue on non-confidence motion on Tuesday and the House was adjourned sine die again.

Even as the Council reassembled for a single-day session, Deputy Chairman S L Dharme Gowda, who belongs to JD(S) occupied the Chairman’s chair before the commencement of the session. But the numerically large Opposition Congress members pulled the JD(S) leader out of the chair alleging that JD(S) joined hands with the BJP to oust Chairman K Pratapchandra Shetty.

The Legislative Council security staff or marshals, who were present in the House in full force, were completely unable to control the unruly members as the Congress, BJP and JD(S) jostled and pushed one another unmindful of the gentle efforts of the marshals.

Both Congress and BJP members indulged in heated arguments even after the House was adjourned.

BJP ministers condemned the attitude and actions of the Congress members while Congress members lashed out at the BJP government’s conduct in the House as “undemocratic.’’

Instead of Pratapchandra Shetty, the Council Deputy Chairman Dharme Gowda sat on the chair before the House bell stopped ringing. This angered the Congress members, who pulled Gowda out of the Chair.

To send a message that JD(S) has been supporting the non-confidence motion notice, Dharme Gowda occupied the chair.

On Monday, the BJP has written a letter to Shetty that he should not occupy the chair during the session on Tuesday since the notice was given to move no confidence motion against him, Law Minister J C Madhuswamy said.

The BJP member Tejaswini Gowda alleged that the House Marshals had not even given protection to the Deputy Chairman when the Congress members pulled him out of the chair and demanded a thorough probe into the shameful episode.

With today’s incident, the BJP again failed to introduce the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, which has been already passed by the State Legislative Assembly.

The State Government is likely to promulgate an ordinance to implement the Bill, which was passed by the Assembly last week.

After today’s developments, the BJP has decided again to submit a petition to the Governor explaining the developments.

This is a very bad incident in the 113 year-old history of the Council said senior JD(S) member Basavaraj Horatti. ``The Congress is wrong,’’ he said after the House was adjourned sine die without transacting any business.

A few days ago, Shetty had dismissed a charge by ruling BJP members that he had behaved in an “unconstitutional” manner by adjourning the winter session of the House sine die on Thursday last.

On last Tuesday, Shetty had adjourned the House sine die stating a majority of the members, particularly 25 elected members from the local bodies’ constituencies, wanted the House adjourned to spend time in the campaigning for the gram panchayat elections.

In a petition to Governor Vajubhai Vala on Friday, BJP members said that “some vested interests are trying to adjourn the Council sine-die on December 10. The intention of adjourning the House prematurely was expressed in the BAC meeting held on December 9 by the Opposition members.’’

“In the BAC meeting, the representatives of the government, the Law Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister have clearly indicated that many crucial bills which are going to be passed in the Assembly have to be brought to the Council and therefore requested the Chairman to continue the House till December 15 as scheduled. However, this was turned down by the Chairman without assigning any reasons,’’ the petition said.

The BJP said “certain members of the Council have given a notice of no confidence motion against the Chairman on November 25 under section 165 Rules of the House and Article 193c of the Constitution.’’

On the abrupt adjournment of the House, the BJP said “this is unconstitutional behavior on the part of the Chairman and this cannot be allowed under the law.’’

“In our view, the Chairman does not enjoy the confidence of the majority of the House and it is unacceptable that without the majority he wants to continue as the Chairman till next session,’’ the petition said.

It remains to be seen as to how the Chief Minister, ruling BJP and JD(S) are tackling the situation as the Chairman of the Legislative Council cannot be removed without following the prescribed procedures or rules.