Prathap Chandra Shetty gets elected council chairman with no opposition

BELAGAVI: After the ruling coalition had named Prathap Chandra Shetty as its candidate for the post of chairman of the legislative council, On Wednesday he BJP surprised everyone by extending their support to the MLC. This had resulted in Shetty being unanimously elected for the post.

Shetty, took charge from the acting chairman and the JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti. He is said to have been picked by JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, with a push in a bid towards the foil by the former CM Siddaramaiah for senior Congress legislator SR Patil.

As they both blamed the media for creating an impression of a race regarding the post. Patil said that, “I never aspired for the chair. It was only a media creation. However, with the legislature session happening in Belagavi, it would be wrong on my part if I did not admit that injustice has been meted out to this part of the state. There is inadequate representation in seats of power for the people of the 13 districts.”

Horatti randomly had admitted that he had “hoped” to continue in the post as a permanent chairman, but his dream was cut short. He said that, “There is nothing wrong in aspiring, we are no saints. But I did not lobby for it. As put aptly by my colleague SR Patil, I had hoped to become the permanent chairman for the welfare of North Karnataka. I would consider it my good fortune that I got to sit in the chair for a few months and did as much as I could.”

The law minister Byre Gowda had said that, “Despitecious atmosphere in coastal districts in recent years, Poojari and Shetty have complimented each other and kept winning. When one considers differences of politicians from coastal districts and those from dry lands, one is sure to note that you (MLCs from coastal belt) are intellectuals and we (from dry lands) are only intelligent and below par. The house is now in the hands of representatives from coastal district and we hope to see a good session henceforth.”