K. Shivakumar and other Congress leaders meet then Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, in Bengaluru on August 7, 2026.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other Congress leaders meet then Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, in Bengaluru on August 7, 2026. | Speaking to press persons at his home office in Hubballi on Tuesday (August 11, 2026), Mr. Horatti said that after 1956, it was the first time that such a development of seeking resignation had taken place.Recalling the developments on the day of his resignation, Mr. Horatti said: “After the chief minister asked for my resignation, I had conveyed to him during my meeting with him that I will resign on August 14, the day the House commences its proceedings after the condolence motion on August 13. However, on August 7, the CM, the KPCC President and around 20 legislators — including Saleem Ahmed who was chosen to succeed me — came into the annexe and sat there for over an hour insisting that I resign immediately”.“I tried to convince them that I will anyway tender my resignation on August 14, which I had already announced and was also published in the media, but they were in no mood to listen and insisted I should resign immediately. They also got the resignation letter typed. I didn’t want to have any confrontation and to calm down situation, I signed the resignation letter,” he said.As per Section 183, the Chairman should tender his resignation to the Deputy Chairman. “As the position was vacant, I wanted to complete the process of the Deputy Chairman’s appointment and then tender my resignation to him,” Mr. Horatti said.“As the sudden developments shocked me, I wrote a letter to the Governor informing him about the incidents that led to my resignation. It was not a complaint but I wanted to inform him about the developments. Appointment of Pro-tem Chairman was indicative of acceptance of the resignation,” he added.Mr Horatti said that Karnataka Legislative Council had been a model to the whole country and it was painful to see such a development. “What is more painful is that I was not allowed to make a parting speech through which I wanted to thank the House for the cooperation extended to me during my tenure as Chairman,” he said.He added that the Congress’s announcement of the candidate’s name for the Chairman’s post in its party letterhead was wrong and should not have been done, as it was a Constitutional post. On his next move, Mr. Horatti said he would continue to participate in the House proceedings as a member. Published - August 11, 2026 03:56 pm IST
Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar along with Ministers meeting Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, in Bengaluru With Congress naming its senior leader Saleem Ahmed as the candidate for Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, efforts are on to convince Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to step down.On Thursday, Mr. Horatti, who is learnt to be upset, said that he is yet to decide on his next move and said that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had asked him to step down.Coming amid criticism from the BJP over the manner in which Mr. Horatti is being cornered, the Chief Minister met Mr. Horatti late on Wednesday night to request him to step down to prevent any showdown in the House when the Monsoon Session of the State Legislature commences on August 13. The BJP took exception to the fact that Mr. Horatti went to the Chief Minister’s residence during which time nearly half a dozen Cabinet Ministers were present along with some legislators.Mr. Horatti told The Hindu that he is yet to decide on tendering his resignation from the post. He said he had met the Chief Minister at his residence on Wednesday night, during which the latter asked him for the second time to resign.“I have told him that I will ponder over it and sought time till August 14 to inform him of my decision. I will consult my colleagues and then decide,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister had also spoken to him on the issue on August 4.Government sources said the Chief Minister told Mr. Horatti that the Congress had not pressed him to resign earlier, even though the party had the numbers in the House. Incidentally, the Congress has secured a clear majority in the House following its victories in recent elections.The party’s strength is set to increase to 43 with four government-nominated seats still lying vacant. Congress member A.V. Gayatri Shanthegowda is scheduled to take oath on Friday.“He told the Council Chairman that he respected his seniority and experience. The government did not want to move a no-confidence motion against him, considering that he is the senior-most member of the House. However, there was pressure within the party too to accommodate aspiring leaders,” a source said. Published - August 06, 2026 09:56 pm IST
A day after the Congress announced the name of Saleem Ahmed for the post of Chairman of the Legislative Council, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar rang up incumbent Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Tuesday and suggested that he resign.Confirming the Chief Minister’s conversation with him, Mr. Horatti told The Hindu that Mr. Shivakumar called him around 3 p.m. “ I told him that I will ponder over the issue and then inform him of my decision,” he said.Mr. Horatti said that he would alao had to consult senior leaders in the party and experts on the issue before taking a decision. Published - August 05, 2026 05:22 am IST
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