Bengaluru: Despite its best efforts, the ruling Congress party may not succeed in removing Legislative Council chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy from his post during the ongoing session.
Reason: Mr Murthy is unlikely to take up the no-confidence motion notice given by Congress members against him, for discussion even after the stipulated 14 days. Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party told this newspaper that Congress member V.S. Ugrappa and others had given the notice against the chairman on May 30.
The notice has to be taken up within 14 days of the date of submission to the Council secretary. The stipulated 14 days will be over on June 13.
If Mr Shankaramurthy considers the notice within 14 days (by June 13), he still has five days to decide whether it can be taken up for discussion or not. The current session will end on June 16, so it is not mandatory for the chairman to take up the notice for discussion before the conclusion of the present session, said sources.
According to rules, once the no-confidence motion notice is moved, it has to be supported by at least five members in the House.
Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party also said that before submitting the no-confidence motion notice, the consent of the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership has not been obtained.
If the Congress moves the notice without the Janata Dal (Secular) consent, Deve Gowda’s party is unlikely to support the no-confidence motion notice, sources maintained.
The Janata Dal (Secular) leadership also knows that it is due to the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party that the party was able to secure the Council deputy chairman’s post.
If the party joins hands with the Congress to unseat Shankaramurthy, it may get only the same post.
In such a situation, Janata Dal (Secular) leaders are wondering why they should support the Congress and incur the wrath of the BJP.
However the ruling Congress is firm on its resolve to remove the chairman with the support of JD(S). Sources in the Congress said that their leadership is in touch with the JD(S) and have completed one round of talks. At present, party strength in the 75-member legislative Council is: Congress – 32, BJP – 22, JD(S) – 13, Independents – 5, chairman – 1 and 2 vacant seats.
