Chairman election: K'taka Council adjourned

Bangalore, Feb 1 (UNI) The Karnataka Legislative Council was today adjourned till evening without transacting any business as the Opposition Congress raised slogans, demanding that the State Government hold election to the post of House Chairman, remaining vacant for eight months.

The House, which assembled in the afternoon after a delay of one hour, witnessed chaos when the Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Council H K Patil, insisted on the Government coming out with the calender of events for holding the election.

Mr Patil said his party was not ready to recognise the appointment of Officiating Chairman N Thipanna of the JD(S) as it was ''illegal, ultra vires and against all the established traditions of the House''. Besides, Deputy Chairman Sachidananda Khot had been admitted to hospital and could not attend the House.

Accusing the State Government of throwing all Constitutional norms to the wind by the move, he said that ''by not holding the election, the State Government is showing disrespect to all democratic values.'' A Congress delegation had met the Governor recently and urged him to prevail upon the Government to initiate the poll process. However, the Government was adamant and not responding, he claimed, asking Mr Thipanna not to occupy the post.

Home Minister M P Prakash, despite the din in the House, defended the appointment as being in accordance with the rules and procedures of the House. ''The Congress has no moral right to talk on the issue as it had kept the post vacant for more than 13 months,'' he added.

Mr Thippanna, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings till evening as the Congress members continued to raise slogans.

UNI