SR Patil got a chance twice, was minister and Oppn leader too: Prathapchandra Shetty
With more than three decades of experience as a lawmaker in both Houses of the state legislature, veteran Congress leader Prathapchandra Shetty could have been a unanimous choice for the post of presiding officer of the Upper House but he bagged the post in unusual circumstances. There were reports that he emerged as the dark horse for the prestigious post amid a tussle between former CM Siddaramaiah’s loyalist S.R. Patil and veteran JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti, both of whom finally lost out in the race. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Shetty said he did not expect to become Council chairman but the party, going by merit, could not deny him the post. Here are excerpts.
Do you expect to be chosen Council Chairman?
No, I did not expect it but my appointment as Chairman was not a sudden development. I have more than 32 years experience as a legislator in both Houses. I had the confidence that my party will consider my services one day. There is no reason for the party to deny me the position.
But there are reports that the party appointed you Chairman not taking into account your loyalty or service but just to ensure that the post did not go to former minister S.R. Patil. Is it true?
Mr S.R. Patil is junior to me, he is a three-term MLC but I have served seven terms in both Houses (four as MLA and three as MLC). The party leadership gave a chance to Mr Patil twice, he was a minister in the previous government and was opposition leader in the Council. This is the decision of the party and we have to abide by the decision.
In the Legislative Council, all three top posts are occupied by leaders from the coastal districts, can people expect better coordination in the Council now?
All three top posts going to coastal leaders is just accidental. Opposition leader in the Council Kota Srinivasa Poojari is an able leader and so the BJP considered him for that post. Women and Child Development Minister Dr Jayamala is the ruling party leader in the Council, though she was born in Surathkal, she was brought up in Chikamagaluru district. I enjoy a good rapport with Mr Poojari and I am confident that he will support me in my effort to conduct the proceedings in the House smoothly.
Actually, six months back, then KPCC President Dr. G. Parameshwar scolded your supporters for demanding Cabinet berth to you and cited the poor Congress show in the coastal districts but now he was keen to appoint you as Council Chairman...
Though I did not demand a minister’s post, my well wishers did it on my behalf. During the filing of my nomination, Dr Parameshwar came and praised me. Considering my service, unblemished political record and loyalty, the party high command has considered my name for the post.
Soon after your appointment as Chairman, there is a hue and cry in the party for ignoring North Karnataka region.
Mr S.R.Patil was proposed my candidature for the Chairman’s post. Even I stood behind him during his stint as Opposition leader in the House. It is not the first time my name was considered for the post. When the party made an attempt to dethrone then presiding officer D.H. Shankarmurthy, the AICC leadership had suggested my name but the party was unsuccessful in its attempt to dethrone Mr Shankaramurthy.
Do you have any plan to enhance the quality of debate in the Council and introduce changes in Council proceedings?
Yes, I will bring reforms in the Council proceedings stage by stage, including the time set aside for question hour. I will give priority to members who want to discuss development oriented issues. I am also contemplating introducing a paperless system in the proceedings in the coming days.
You have put the government in an embarrassing spot on many occasions though you are in the ruling party. What about the future?
I am not backing a politically motivated agenda, if the issues are genuine and pro-people oriented, I will definitely support them. For instance, people of coastal Karnataka are suffering due to non-availability of sand, it is the duty of the government to resolve the issue.
Your predecessor D.H. Shankaramurthy advocated constitutional status for the Upper House on par with the Rajya Sabha, will you carry forward your predecessor’s efforts?
It is the duty of the state government to provide permanent status to the Upper House. First, the state Cabinet has to accept the proposal and then the Assembly has to pass the bill. In the past, nothing has been done in this direction, the previous Chairman only spoke about giving permanent status to the Upper House. Once the Cabinet and state legislature approve the proposal, the Union Cabinet has to ratify the state’s demand.
It is alleged that the Council has become a White Elephant in recent years. Unnecessary expenditure has come in for criticism, how do you propose to tighten things on the expenditure front?
It is true that unnecessary expenditure has not done much good to the name of the Council. I will definitely usher in some kind of financial discipline and bring down unneeded expenses. There is no proper monitoring of travel expenses of legislators and usage of vehicles. Issues pertaining to excess appointment of drivers also need to be addressed. I will order the compulsory monitoring of vehicles of the Council through CCTV and their usage in future.
