Hubballi (Karnataka), August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Tuesday alleged that he was compelled to resign from the post and was not allowed to step down on the date he had planned.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Horatti said he had informed Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot about the circumstances surrounding his resignation but was yet to receive any formal communication on whether it had been accepted.
“I have conveyed everything to the Governor in this regard. The Governor has not given me any intimation. He has not stated whether I have been relieved or whether my resignation has been accepted. As far as I know, if I have been appointed as the pro tem Chairman, it means my resignation has been accepted,” he said.
Horatti expressed disappointment over the state government’s handling of the matter, saying he was hurt by the manner in which the issue unfolded.
“I am pained by the move of the state government. I have not done anything wrong. I am saddened. I have been in the House for 46 years and have rendered my services. I had to resign under a compulsive situation. I did not want a confrontational situation,” he said.
Horatti claimed he had discussed the timing of his resignation with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and that an understanding had been reached on the matter.
He said the plan was to complete obituary references in the House on August 13 and elect the Vice Chairman on August 14, following which he intended to formally thank the House and tender his resignation.
“What I had discussed with the Chief Minister was that on August 13, we would complete the obituary references and on August 14, the Vice Chairman would be elected. I had said that on that day, I would get an opportunity to convey my gratitude. I had told him that after expressing my gratitude on that day, I would tender my resignation,” Horatti said.
“There was an agreement between us in this regard,” he added.
Horatti further alleged that Shivakumar insisted that he sign the resignation on the same day, leaving him with little option. He said he complied because he did not want the issue to turn confrontational.
The controversy comes amid political developments surrounding the Council Chairman’s post. Horatti tendered his resignation on Friday after meeting Shivakumar earlier in the day and subsequently holding another meeting at the Chairman’s office.
The Chief Minister, Karnataka Congress president and MLC B.K. Hariprasad, Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed, who has been nominated by the party for the Chairman’s post, and other senior leaders were involved in discussions with Horatti.
Horatti’s three-line resignation letter, addressed to the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, stated that he was resigning from the post of his own free will. The Chief Minister’s Office subsequently shared the resignation letter.
Legislative Council Secretary Jyothi issued a notification soon afterwards stating that the Chairman’s post had fallen vacant following Horatti’s resignation.
Horatti is among Karnataka’s longest-serving legislators and has spent 46 years in the state legislature.
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