Congress to petition to the President on Council Chairman Election

Bangalore, Feb 9 (UNI) The opposition Congress, which has failed to get response from the State Government on its demand for holding election to the Legislative Council Chairman post, has decided to petition to President A P J Abdul Kalam over illegal appointment of Janata Dal (Secular) member as the officiating Chairman of the Upper House.

Senior Congress members of the Legislative Council, including former Minister Prof B K Chandrashekhar and V S Ugrappa told newsmen that since the State Government was not showing any interest to resolve the issue, the party has decided to approach the President.

Prof Chandrashekhar said that Congress was very much keen to participate in the proceedings of the house and discuss burning issues including the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, farmers plights, severe drought prevailing in the State.

However, the government was not conceding the legal demand holding election to the Chairman post, which is lying vacant for the last eight month.

He said that a piquant situation was created following indisposal of the Deputy Chairman of the house Sachidananda Khod while the post of the Chairman was vacant. The State government instead of holding elections and pave way for the smooth functioning of the house was indulging in defending the illegal appointment of JD(S) member N Tippanna as the officiating Chairman of the house. The State government has degenerated the sanctity and importance of the house which has the history of over 100 years, he alleged.

Prof Chandrashekhar said that his party would also demand Governor T N Chaturvedi to exercise his constitutional power to direct the state government to hold elections and remove the deadlock created by the ruling party. The Party also planning to seek legal remedy to the issue besides petitioning the President to intervene into the matter.

Congress has been stalling the proceedings of house since the beginning on January 25.

UNI