Bengaluru: Just days after the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) had a running battle over sharing of portfolios with the JD(S) insisting on finance and power and finally getting them, a new tug of war has begun between the coalition partners over the post of chairman of the Legislative Council. The tenure of the incumbent chairman D.H. Shankarmurthy got over on Thursday.
Mr Shankarmurthy was in the BJP and managed to remain chairman of the Upper House for a very long time thanks to the understanding between BJP and JD(S). Now with the completion of his six year term, his tenure as chairman has come to an end. A few months ago, the Congress had moved a no confidence motion against the chairman but he had sailed through after the JD(S) supported the BJP in the crucial voting.
With the coalition now in power, the JD(S) is eyeing the chairman's post on the ground that it did not stake claim to the post of Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. This had helped the Congress to get former minister and Srinivasapura MLA K.R. Ramesh Kumar elected unopposed to the Speaker's post. Now, Congress MLCs identified with former CM and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah, have reportedly demanded the chairman post on the basis of the party strength in the Council. Senior Congress leaders want to make former minister and Congress MLC S.R. Patil chairman in recognition of his efforts to ensure the victory of Mr Siddaramaiah from Badami Assembly Constituency in the recent polls.
The claim and counter claim have put the coalition partners in a fix with Mr Gowda not ready to budge from his position that Mr Horatti should be given the post. Mr Horatti is upset that he was not considered for a cabinet berth despite his service to the party and experience. A noted Lingayat leader of North Karnataka, he had reportedly distanced himself from all party activities, after being denied the minister post. It however remains to be seen if he will agree to become chairman since he has refused to accept any post. A decision is likely to be taken at the earliest as the name has to be sent to Governor Vajubai Vala for his approval. There is a possibility that Mr Horatti may be appointed pro-tem chairman and later be asked to continue in the same post.
