"Contempt committed by Congress": Karnataka Council LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Chairman appointment row

"The Congress has selected the candidate through the political forum. In their letter, the Congress party has mentioned that Salim Ahmad is the Chairman of the Council. It has to be selected by the members of the Council. It is a contempt committed by the Congress party," Narayanaswamy told ANI.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Thursday accused Congress of committing "contempt" by naming a candidate for the Council Chairman post, saying the position should be decided by members of the House. Reacting to Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Shivalingappa Horatti's remarks alleging that Congress was attempting to "hijack" a constitutional post, Narayanaswamy said the party's decision to name Salim Ahmed as Chairman was against the procedure.

"The Congress has selected the candidate through the political forum. In their letter, the Congress party has mentioned that Salim Ahmad is the Chairman of the Council. It has to be selected by the members of the Council. It is a contempt committed by the Congress party," Narayanaswamy told ANI. He also targeted AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal, saying, "AICC president owning the responsibility, he should quit. And General Secretary KC Venugopal is the person who signed on the letterhead, so he should be sacked."

"This is totally illegal, immoral and unconstitutional. Unconstitutional things should not be committed by a political party," he added. Earlier in the day, Horatti alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had informed him about the Congress high command's demand for his resignation from the post.

"Yesterday, I went to meet the Chief Minister over tea for a discussion. He told me that the Congress High Command wanted me to resign immediately. I responded that I would think about it and let him know when the Assembly session starts," Horatti had said. Horatti further alleged that the process adopted by the ruling party amounted to interference in a constitutional office.

"What has happened is completely wrong. It is the first time I am hearing of such a thing in India; they are hijacking both the Legislative Council and the Assembly. The House has the constitutional power to elect the Chairman and the Assembly Speaker. However, without consulting anyone, they straightaway imposed a name," he said. The controversy comes after the Congress high command approved appointments to key positions in the Karnataka legislature. GS Patil was cleared for the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, AS Ponnanna for Deputy Speaker, Saleem Ahmed for Chairperson of the Legislative Council, and Umashree for Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council.

Meanwhile, 19 Congress MLAs took the oath as ministers on Monday. (ANI)