BJP-JD(S) likely to join hands for Legislative Council Chairman and Dy Chairman post in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jan 27: With leaders of both parties holding talks, there are all indications that the ruling BJP and JD(S) are likely to join hands for the post of Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
On Wednesday, JD(S) candidate for the Chairman post, Basavaraj Horatti, MLC, met Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in this regard and sought the BJP's support.
Horatti said JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda has already spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda seeking the ruling party's support.
"I met the Chief Minister.Yesterday our (JDS) 13 MLCs, H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy (party leader and former CM) had held discussions, and we have decided to ask for council Chairman post and to support them (BJP) for the Deputy Chairman post," Horatti said.
Speaking to reporters here after meeting Yediyurappa, he said the Chief Minister has told him that BJP's decision will be communicated to the JD(S) leadership after discussion with the party MLCs.
"I'm the senior member in the House (council) and there is general opinion among everyone that I should be made (the Chairman).. so we are asking for the Chairman post and will support them (BJP) for Deputy Chairman," he added.
The election for the post of Chairman and Deputy Chairman are likely to take place during the joint session of the state legislature beginning from Thursday.
There are all indications that the incumbent Chairman K Pratapachandra Shetty, who is from the Congress, may resign soon, as the ruling BJP has moved a no-confidence motion against him which is likely to be supported by the JD (S).
The post of the Deputy Chairman has fell vacant following JD(S)' S L Dharme Gowda's alleged death by suicide last month.
Noting that discussions have taken place with the Prime Minister and Nadda, Horatti said "Deve Gowda has told them that I (Horatti) should be given a chance considering my seniority."
"Nadda had asked for my bio-data which has been sent.He has told Gowda that their decision will be communicated to the party (BJP) state president," Horatti said, adding that he has experience, seniority and trust of MLCs of various parties to conduct the proceedings of the legislative council as its Chairman.
Horatti, however, was non committal to a question on seeking Congress' support in case BJP does not come along.
"I have belief that they (BJP) will accept my candidature as Chairman," he added.
Speculation is rife in BJP circles that the ruling party may agree to support Horatti, in return for the regional party's support in its move to oust Shetty and passage of certain key bills, and will settle for Deputy Chairman post.
The earlier move by both parties in December to remove Shetty as Chairman was not successful as their notice of no-confidence was rejected on technical grounds. The House had witnessed high drama that day with the BJP-JDS and Congress members hurling abuses and pushing each other.
Amid the ruckus on December 15,the the then Deputy Chairman Dharme Gowda was even pulled down from the Chair.
Currently the ruling BJP is the single largest party in the Council with 31 seats, followed by Congress with 29 including the chairman, JD(S) 13, one independent and one vacant (due to death of Dharme Gowda).
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DMK poll manifesto is game-changing plan for TN, says Stalin
Chennai (PTI): DMK chief M K Stalin on Monday said his party manifesto for the April 23 Assembly election was a "game-changing" plan for Tamil Nadu as it underscored the steps towards progress.
The monetary support announced in the poll manifesto, he said, was a "smart economic multiplier" that would uplift the local economy, support small businesses, upskill people, and upgrade long-term outcomes.
"Development and welfare move together proving you can build infrastructure, grow the economy, and uplift people simultaneously. From one-size-fits-all to choice-based governance," the Tamil Nadu chief minister said, and added "people decide what works for them."
The manifesto focused on creating assets, improving productivity, generating economic activity, and delivering measurable long-term returns, he said in a post on 'X'.
"This is a next-phase document. It builds on what has already been delivered and scales it with smarter design, deeper impact, and wider reach," Stalin said.
The six steps towards progress outlined in the manifesto included development for women, family, youth, farmers, housing and infrastructure and governance, he said.
He highlighted the DMK poll promises of increasing the monthly grant under 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai' (women entitlement) to Rs 2,000, from the present Rs 1,000, and adding new eligible women every year, expanding the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme till 8th Standard, providing coupon worth Rs 8,000 under the 'Illatharasi' (homemaker) scheme to buy new / replace household electronic appliances for their family, enhancing the medical treatment coverage to Rs 10 lakh, and increasing pension sum to Rs 2,000 per month for senior citizens, widows and spinsters above the age of 50.
Skill training for 5 lakh youth who have completed higher education, fetching foreign investment of Rs 18 lakh crore and creating 50 lakh jobs over 5 years, hiking the higher education monthly grant for college students to Rs 1,500 from the present Rs 1,000, providing 35 lakh free laptops to all college students, providing free modern electric pump sets without any meters to over 20 lakh farmers receiving free electricity, and providing 10 lakh new concrete houses under 'Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam' and various other housing schemes towards a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030, were among the other assurances.
On governance, he said the people's aspirations registered under the 'Unga Kanava Sollunga' (Tell us your dreams) initiative will be fulfilled as a priority.
