Intro: The situation shifted later when his personal assistant was instructed to bring the resignation letter.
Gadag
Former Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti has expressed anguish over the manner in which he said his resignation was obtained, alleging that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally came to the Speaker’s office and pressured him to step down.
Speaking to party workers at Bellatti village in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Horatti said he was deeply hurt by the treatment he received. He alleged that the Chief Minister stayed inside the office with the doors closed for nearly one-and-a-half hours while insisting that he resign from the post.
Horatti said Shivakumar had called him at around 11 p.m. on July 24 and asked him to resign as Legislative Council Chairman. However, he said he had decided to convene the Council session on August 14, thank the members and then submit his resignation.
According to Horatti, the situation changed later when his personal assistant was asked to bring the resignation letter. He alleged that the Chief Minister had the letter prepared without providing him with any reason for seeking his resignation and obtained his signature on it.
The former Chairman described the manner in which the resignation was obtained as an act of coercion and said the incident had caused him considerable emotional distress. His remarks indicate his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the leadership handled his exit from the constitutional position.
Horatti’s allegations have added another political point of discussion within Karnataka, particularly over the circumstances surrounding the change in the Legislative Council leadership. He maintained that while he was prepared to step down, he was disappointed by the manner in which the resignation was secured.
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He had intended to leave the post only after completing the proceedings and expressing his gratitude to members of the Legislative Council. Instead, he alleged that he was forced to resign before he could follow the procedure he had planned.